GEN.  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 


LIFE  SP  LETTERS 

OF 

GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 


BY 

ISABEL  WALLACE 


CHICAGO 

R.  R.  DONNELLEY  &  SONS  COMPANY 
1909 


COPYRIGHT,  1909 

BY 
MISS  ISABEL  WALLACE 


Cije 

I.  R.  DONNELLEY  &  SONS  COMPANY 
CHICAGO 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DEDICATED  TO  THE  MEMORY  OF 

MRS.  ANN  DICKEY  WALLACE 

WHO   RADIATED  GOODNESS,   SWEETNESS  AND  CHEER  AROUND   HER 

BRAVE  AND  UNSELFISH  IN  A  GREAT  SORROW, 

SHE  MADE  THE  WORLD  BETTER 

BY   HER  PRESENCE. 


M46965 


"  True  glory  consists  in  doing  what  deserves  to 
be  written,  in  writing  what  deserves  to  be  read,  and 
in  so  living  as  to  make  the  world  better  and  hap 
pier  for  our  living."  — PLINY. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I 
PARENTAGE  —  EARLY  LITE i 

CHAPTER  H 
GOES  TO  OTTAWA.    STUDIES  LAW  ......      8 

CHAPTER  HI 
MEXICAN  WAR  —  JOURNEY  TO  MEXICO 13 

CHAPTER  IV 
MARCHING  INTO  MEXICO 21 

CHAPTER  V 
ON  THE  MARCH  TO  BUENA  VISTA 32 

CHAPTER  VI 
BATTLE  or  BUENA  VISTA 40 

CHAPTER  VII 

THE  ILLINOIS  TROOPS  RETURN  HOME  —  WALLACE  ENDEAVORS 
TO  RE-ENTER  THE  ARMY     .......     55 

CHAPTER  VIII 
COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE     .......     62 

CHAPTER  DC 

DICKEY  AND  WALLACE  AGAINST  LOVEJOY  IN  1856  AND  1858  70 

CHAPTER  X 

LINCOLN'S    NOMINATION  —  THE    FEELING    IN    THE    COUNTRY 
BEFORE  ms  INAUGURATION 87 

CHAPTER  XI 

LINCOLN'S  INAUGURATION  —  FIRING  ON  SUMTER  —  THE  COUN 
TRY  PREPARES  FOR  WAR.    MR.  WALLACE  MADE  COLONEL    .     98 


CONTENTS— Continued 

CHAPTER  XH 

COLONEL  WALLACE'S  REGIMENT  ENLISTS  FOR  THE  WAR.    THE 
COMMAND  MOVES  TO  BIRD'S  POINT,  MISSOURI     .         .         .115 

CHAPTER  XIII 

GENERAL  FREMONT  IN  COMMAND  or  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT. 
LARGE  REBEL  FORCE  NEAR  BIRD'S  POINT    .        .         .        .126 

CHAPTER  XIV 

MAJOR  GENERAL  HALLECK  IN  COMMAND  OF  WESTERN  DEPART 
MENT.    BATTLE  OF  BELMONT 137 

CHAPTER  XV 
CAPTURE  OF  FORT  HENRY  AND  FORT  DONELSON      .         .         .  150 

CHAPTER  XVI 

CONGRATULATORY  CORRESPONDENCE  —  THE  TROOPS  MOVE  UP 
THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER  TO  SAVANNAH          ....  168 

CHAPTER  XVII 

GENERAL  WALLACE'S  COMMAND  MOVES  TO  PITTSBURG  LANDING. 
MRS.  WALLACE'S  JOURNEY  TO  PITTSBURG  LANDING      .        .  179 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
BATTLE  OF  SHTLOH    .  188 

CHAPTER  XIX 

DEATH  AND  BURIAL  OF  GENERAL  WALLACE.    PATHETIC  LETTER 
OF  MRS.  WALLACE 197 

CHAPTER  XX 

PUBLIC  OPINION  OF  GENERAL  WALLACE  —  His  SERVICES  AS  AN 
OFFICER  —  His  CHARACTER  AS  A  MAN  —  MEMORIAL  WINDOW.  211 

CHAPTER  XXI 
MRS.  WALLACE 223 

INDEX  .         . 227 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  .         .  .   Frontispiece 

St.  Charles  Hotel,  New  Orleans 18 

Battle  of  Buena  Vista 40 

Map  of  the  Battlefield 43 

The  Dickey  Home,  Ottawa 63 

Autograph  Cards  of  Ward  H.  Lamon  and  A.  Lincoln  .         .         .116 

The  Oaks,  Home  of  General  Wallace 131 

Flag  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois  Regiment  in  the  Library  at  The  Oaks  165 
Autograph  Letter  of  General  Lew  Wallace  ....  189 
The  Cherry  Mansion,  Savannah,  Tennessee  .  .  .  .197 
Monument  to  General  Wallace  in  the  Shiloh  National  Park .  .  212 

Autograph  Letter  of  General  Grant 218 

Drawing  of  Memorial  Window  in  the  Library  at  The  Oaks.  .  221 
Biographical  Section  of  Memorial  Window  ....  222 
Mrs.  Wallace  .........  224 


PREFACE 

N  the  days  of  chivalry  men  of  action  performed 
deeds  which  were  heralded  by  tuneful  bards,  thus 
perpetuating  noble  lives  to  be  admired  and  emu 
lated  by  succeeding  generations.  All  through  the 
ages  these  heroic  men  appear  on  the  pages  of  history  as 
links  in  the  great  chain  wrought  by  the  eternal  hand  of  God 
in  His  plans  for  the  betterment  and  advancement  of  the 
human  race. 

General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  can  be  called  the  Chevalier 
Bayard  of  the  North,  as  was  General  Kirby-Smith  the  Chev 
alier  Bayard  of  the  Southern  Confederacy.  The  life  of  Gen 
eral  Wallace,  in  the  short  space  of  forty-one  years,  touched  on 
some  of  the  great  events  of  American  history  in  the  nineteenth 
century,  and  side-lights  from  private  letters  and  papers  are 
here  thrown  on  these  momentous  times. 

Some  glimpses  are  also  given  of  the  bravery  and  suffering 
of  the  women  at  home  during  the  Civil  War  with  soldier  hus 
bands  in  the  army,  a  phase  not  so  often  dwelt  upon  as  the 
heroic  deeds  of  the  men  at  the  front. 

ISABEL  WALLACE. 

The  Oaks,  Ottawa,  Illinois. 
August,  igog. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS 

OF 

GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 


CHAPTER  I. 
PARENTAGE  AND  EARLY  LIFE. 

WILLIAM  WALLACE  of  Illinois  resembled  William 
Wallace  of  Scotland  in  more  respects  than  the 
name.  They  were  alike  in  devotion  to  their  coun 
try,  for  which  each  gave  his  life — one  dying  in  a  most  in 
human  manner  by  the  hands  of  a  foreign  foe  outside  his 
own  country;  the  other  by  the  hands  of  a  foe,  'tis  true,  his 
own  countrymen,  but  in  battle  honored  and  admired  by  the 
enemy  surrounding  him  no  less  than  by  his  own  soldiers. 
The  body  of  William  Wallace  of  Illinois  was  laid  to  rest 
with  honor  and  respect,  not  cut  and  placed  on  poles  to  be 
jeered  at  by  his  enemies,  as  was  the  sad  fate  of  the  great 
Sir  William  Wallace  of  Scotland  five  hundred  years  before. 

In  another  point  are  they  alike — in  their  devotion  to 
home  and  the  beloved  wife  sheltered  there. 

Even  in  appearance,  if  history  tells  true,  they  again 
meet;  both  tall,  with  sandy  hair  and  gray  eyes,  which  be 
tokens  the  Scotch  ancestry  of  William  Wallace  of  Illinois. 
Both  were  Nature's  noblemen,  firm  in  duty,  gentle  and  con 
siderate  to  all  who  required  their  aid — two  great  souls,  akin 
in  name  no  less  than  in  exalted  motives. 

In  personal  appearance  William  Wallace  of  Illinois  was 
tall,  erect,  dignified  almost  to  reserve,  commanding  by 
nature,  but  simple  and  unassuming,  a  gentleman  in  the 
highest  sense  of  the  term.  Cowardice  and  meanness  he  ab 
horred  and  branded  them  as  such  in  no  uncertain  words. 
Wrong  was  wrong  and  right  was  right;  no  glossing  over 
for  any  temporary  gain,  ever  standing  firmly  for  the  highest 
ideals. 

[1] 


s  ;WFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 


was  something  in  his  personality  that  begat  the 
'deepest  devotion  and  intense  loyalty  from  his  friends,  who 
acknowledged  his  superiority  without  envy  or  jealousy; 
wishing  to  see  him  advanced,  they  put  him  forward  as  their 
leader,  and  felt  honored  in  giving  him  honors.  In  war  his 
soldiers  almost  idolized  him,  for  to  him  fear  was  unknown 
and  his  bravery  inspired  them  to  heroic  deeds. 

William  Hervy  Lamme  Wallace  was  born  in  Urbana, 
Ohio,  July  8,  1821.  He  was  the  fourth  child  and  second  son 
of  John  and  Mary  Lamme  Wallace.  His  grandfather 
Wallace  lived  in  Sussex  County,  Delaware,  and  removed  to 
Rockingham  County,  Virginia,  in  1782,  where  his  father, 
John  Wallace,  was  born.  About  1817  John  Wallace  moved 
to  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  where  he  married  Mary 
Lamme,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Lamme,  who 
were  born  in  Augusta  County,  Virginia,  and  moved  from 
there  to  Cynthianna,  Kentucky,  in  1791,  and  to  Champaign 
County,  Ohio,  in  1808.  James  Lamme's  father  was  born  in 
Ireland  and  came  to  America  in  1740,  settling  in  Shenan- 
doah  Valley,  Virginia. 

William  was  but  four  years  old  when  his  mother,  Mary 
Lamme  Wallace,  died.  His  father  married  Sarah  Hitt  for 
a  second  wife. 

John  Wallace  was  a  carpenter  and  builder,  but  meeting 
with  an  accident  that  injured  his  back,  gave  up  his  busi 
ness  and  moved  to  La  Salle  County,  Illinois,  taking  up  an 
original  grant  from  the  United  States  Government  in  Deer 
Park  Township.  In  1834  he,  with  his  wife  and  eleven  chil 
dren,  moved  into  this  new  country. 

William,  then  a  lad  of  twelve  years,  assisted  a  young 
relative  to  drive  out  a  large  flock  of  sheep  from  the  old 
home  to  the  new  one.  A  log  cabin  was  built  and  the  family 
sojourned  in  this  picturesque  locality  for  some  six  years. 
It  is  now  the  beautiful  park  near  the  Deer  Park  canon,  so 
rich  in  material  for  the  naturalist  and  pleasure-seeker. 

Interspersed  with  the  laborious  battle  with  life  that  those 
pioneers  waged  was  many  a  pleasant  ramble  in  which  the 
thoughtful,  refined  boy  roamed  through  the  neighboring 
canons  and  over  the  far-famed  Starved  Rock,  where  he 
gathered  arrows  and  beads  left  by  the  vanquished  Illini. 

[2] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W,  H.  L.  WALLACE 

With  so  large  a  family  John  Wallace  desired  better 
educational  advantages  for  his  children  and  moved  in  1840 
to  Mount  Morris,  Ogle  County,  where  was  situated  the 
Rock  River  Seminary,  in  the  organization  of  which  he  was 
very  active.  The  Wallace  home  here  was  a  suburban  farm 
and  William  manfully  took  an  elder  brother's  share  in  its 
work,  interspersed  with  his  studies  at  the  Rock  River  SermV 
nary. 

The  martial  spirit  of  young  Wallace  was  early  aroused, 
as  when  a  mere  lad  in  Ogle  County  he  with  the  men  of  the 
community  encountered  and  drove  out  a  murderous  band  of 
horse  thieves  and  robbers  that  infested  that  region. 

In  all  newly  settled  countries  these  gangs  of  outlaws  for 
a  time  seem  to  have  full  sway,  unmolested  by  law  or  force. 
Although  few  districts  were  entirely  free  from  these  out 
laws  the  counties  of  Ogle,  Winnebago,  Lee  and  DeKalb 
contained  the  most  numerous  and  powerful  bands.  In  Ogle 
County  especially  they  overruled  all  law;  any  conviction 
for  crime  came  to  naught.  The  law-abiding  citizens  deter 
mined  to  take  the  law  into  their  own  hands,  and  organized 
into  companies  of  Regulators  to  drive  these  desperadoes 
from  the  country.  "One  family,  by  the  name  of  Driscoll," 
as  Randall  Parrish  says,  "determined  not  to  leave  and  re 
solved  to  terrorize  the  Regulators  by  threatening  death  to 
the  members  of  that  organization,  actually  assassinating  the 
captain  before  his  wife  and  family.  Indignation  was  in 
tense  and  the  father  and  sons  were  captured  and  given  a 
day's  trial  and  ordered  to  be  shot,  which  was  done  by  the 
three  hundred  Regulators  present  as  one  man,  so  no  blame 
would  be  attached  to  any  one  individual." 

A  young  student,  by  the  name  of  J.  H.  Aylsworth,  was 
wending  his  way  to  the  Rock  River  Seminary  for  the  first 
time,  and  passed  the  bodies  of  the  three  desperadoes.  Many 
years  afterwards  he  wrote  of  this  scene:  "On  my  way  to 
Mount  Morris  I  passed  the  spot  where  an  enraged  people 
had  just  dispatched  three  horse  thieves  by  the  name  of 
Driscoll,  and,  upon  reaching  the  Seminary,  I  found  the 
question  before  the  lyceum  for  debate  as  follows :  'Resolved, 
That  the  lynch  law  under  certain  circumstances  is  justifia 
ble,'  with  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  leader  in  the  affirmative. 

[3] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"Everything  in  readiness,  Mr.  Wallace  rose  with  digni 
fied  bearing,  and  looking  around  upon  the  audience  a 
moment  he  announced  with  commanding  emphasis  the  fol 
lowing  telling  words:  'The  letter  of  the  law  cannot  touch 
every  case,  but  the  spirit  of  the  law  will.'  Another  sen 
tence  of  like  sweeping  force  or  profound  import  is  scarcely 
to  be  found  in  the  English  language.  The  negatives  were 
not  able  to  rise  above  the  conviction  of  this  self  evident 
declaration,  and  the  more  they  labored  to  combat  it  the 
clearer  it  became  that  conviction  is  justifiable,  and  so  said 
the  judges." 

About  1837,  the  Hitt  brothers,  Samuel,  Martin,  Thomas, 
and  Daniel,  settled  in  Ogle  County,  joined  later  by  their 
sisters,  Mrs.  Wallace  and  Mrs.  Reynolds.  As  there  was  no 
public  school  in  this  section  at  that  time  the  citizens  sent 
to  Maryland  for  a  teacher,  who  began  his  work  in  a  log 
house  about  a  mile  from  Mount  Morris,  which  was  called 
"The  Pine  Creek  Grammar  School."  But  something  better 
was  desired,  and  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Hitt,  a  Methodist  divine, 
visited  the  Illinois  Conference  in  1838,  and  urged  them  to 
establish  a  school  in  Ogle  County,  offering  four  hundred 
and  eighty  acres  of  land  with  eight  thousand  dollars  in 
money,  a  most  munificent  offer  in  those  early  times  in  a 
new  country  and  the  settlers  few. 

The  Conference  was  at  the  time  looking  for  a  suitable 
place  to  establish  a  school  and  gladly  accepted  the  liberal 
offer.  On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1839,  the  corner  stone  was 
laid  amid  the  rejoicings  of  the  community  who  gathered 
from  far  and  near  to  do  honor  to  the  occasion  to  the  num 
ber  of  some  five  hundred,  the  families  nearby  providing  en 
tertainment  for  those  from  a  distance. 

Then  arose  the  great  difficulty  of  procuring  suitable 
material  and  workmen.  But  these  almost  insurmountable 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  its  immediate  erection  were  over 
come  through  the  indefatigable  and  energetic  exertion  of 
the  trustees  and  the  contractor. 

The  Institution  was  opened  for  students  December  1, 
1840.  The  building  was  situated  in  a  high  and  beautiful 
prairie,  the  view  almost  boundless.  The  town  of  Rockford, 
twenty  miles  distant  could  be  distinctly  seen  from  the  top  of 

[4] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

the  building,  as  well  as  many  other  small  towns  on  the  Rock 
River.  The  town  of  Mount  Morris  grew  up  around  the 
school. 

The  men  who  planned  and  built  this  seminary  were  en 
thusiastic  in  their  views  of  the  good  effect  of  a  high  grade 
school  upon  the  community.  "They  builded  better  than 
they  knew."  In  its  earlier  history  when  seminaries  and 
colleges  were  few  and  far  apart  it  wielded  a  very  great  in 
fluence  in  the  western  country,  especially  in  Illinois. 

The  Hon.  R.  R.  Hitt,  in  an  address  at  a  reunion  of  the 
old  students  in  1888,  said :  "The  course  of  instruction 
pursued  in  this  institution  was  admirable  and  was  just  the 
kind  to  produce  well-rounded  minds — men,  the  kind  needed 
for  that  active  and  exacting  period  in  the  history  of  the 
country.  The  classical  and  mathematical  training  was 
thorough  and  the  attention  to  general  literature,  begetting 
a  taste  for  reading  the  best  work,  and  the  knowledge  of  the 
things  best  worth  knowing,  facility  in  composition  and 
facility  in  speech,  fitted  men  for  any  occupation  in  life,  fort 
ifying  them  at  all  points.  Much  stress  was  laid  upon  the 
moral  instruction  of  youth.  It  gave  them  elevated  char 
acter,  sound  principles,  and  produced  men  and  women  who 
have  vindicated  in  useful  and  excellent  lives  the  lessons  of 
a  healthful  moral  training. 

"Fifty  years  ago,  when  this  country  was  filling  up  with 
the  laborious  pioneer  population  and  with  slender  provision 
for  primary  education,  there  was  need  of  young  men  of 
strong  natural  abilities,  and  with  that  equipment  for  the 
world  which  comes  from  a  general  training  of  the  faculties 
which  was  given  here,  and  the  result  of  which  is  seen  in  the 
shining  names  that  star  the  old  catalogues  of  the  Seminary — 
two  governors  of  this  state,  ten  judges,  renowned  generals, 
eminent  preachers,  and  educators,,  merchants,  merchant 
princes,  senators  and  members  of  Congress." 

Some  of  the  men  who  claimed  the  Rock  River  Seminary 
for  their  Alma  Mater  and  afterwards  rose  to  distinction, 
were  John  L.  Beveridge,  Shelby  M.  Cullom,  Robert  R.  Hitt, 
S.  M.  Fellows,  J.  V.  Farwell,  John  A.  Rawlins,  M.  R.  M. 
Wallace,  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 

There  were  three  literary  societies  connected  with  the 

[5] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

school  with  debates  on  immense  subjects — by  the  students 
who  here  gained  the  practice  that  gave  them  eminence  in 
their  country's  legislative  halls. 

At  a  reunion  of  the  Rock  River  Seminary  in  1886,  H.  O. 
McDaid  had  the  topic  of  the  "Amphictyons,"  one  of  the 
strongest  of  these  literary  societies. 

"The  Amphictyons  of  the  'Old  Sandstone'  meet  again— 
not  in  solemn  debates — not  to  decide  problems  relating  to 
the  happiness  and  prosperity  of  their  country — but,  after 
the  test  of  battle — after  the  crucial  struggle  in  life  with 
most  of  us — we  come 'with  shattered  and  depleted  ranks  to 
renew  old  associations  and  recall  old  memories.  One  of 
the  objects  of  the  Amphictyons  of  old  was  to  secure  the 
happiness  and  prosperity  of  their  country,  and  to  this  end, 
says  ^schines,  they  bound  themselves  with  an  oath. 

"The  Amphictyons  of  'Old  Sandstone'  can  point  to  an 
honorable  record,  testifying  their  devotion  to  the  happiness 
and  prosperity  of  their  country.  What  debates  were  held ! 
What  subjects  discussed !  From  the  northeastern  boundary 
to  the  constitutionality  of  the  Fugitive  Slave  Law.  Ques 
tions  of  political  economy  and  the  policy  of  internal  im 
provements,  and  the  great  questions  relating  to  the  preserva 
tion  and  integrity  of  the  national  government.  All  these 
questions  were  discussed  and  decided.  No  vacillating  policy 
was  adopted,  no  hesitation  as  to  remedies — Who  will  deny 
that  in  this  society,  the  foundations  were  laid  to  shape,  in  a 
measure,  the  destinies  of  war,  to  sway  listening  senates ;  to 
direct  the  course  of  justice ;  to  spread  the  peaceful  sway  of 
Christianity. 

"From  out  these  weather-stained  halls  have  gone 
heroic  souls;  some  to  the  battle-field;  some  to  the  halls  of 
legislation;  some  to  humbler  walks  of  life;  but  all,  I  be 
lieve,  with  as  sincere  purpose  as  ever  Amphictyons  as 
sembled  at  Delphi  or  Anthela. 

"Some  have  fallen  in  the  freshness  of  the  morning,  ere 
the  sun  had  reached  the  meridian.  Some  of  them,  like 
the  Amphictyons  at  Thermopylae,  lie  in  honored  graves  at 
their  country's  command.  If  we  call  their  names  they  an 
swer  not. 

"Sanford,  Rawlins,  Wallace.  Sanford!  Alas,  he,  who 
with  heroic  calmness,  sacrificed  his  life  for  country,  sleeps 

[6] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

in  the  soil  of  his  own  loved  Byron,  almost  within  sound  of 
the  murmuring  river  that  flows  with  the  same  majesty  and 
music  as  in  years  gone  by. 

"Rawlins!  Whose  place  in  the  history  of  this  Republic 
will  be  recognized  more  and  more  as  time  goes  by.  Raw 
lins!  the  friend  of  the  'Old  Commander' — a  friendship 
prized  by  him  as  Cicero  prized  the  friendship  of  the  illustri 
ous  Scipio.  And  when  Rawlins  was  laid  to  rest  on  the 
banks  of  the  Potomac,  no  eyes  were  moist  with  sincerer 
tears  than  those  of  Ulysses  S.  Grant. 

"Rawlins !  the  military  companion  of  the  Silent  Soldier 
on  every  battle  field  from  Belmont  to  The  Wilderness.  If 
the  world  knew  the  truth,  perhaps  Stanton  did  not  more  to 
strengthen  and  cheer  the  sometimes  drooping  spirits  of 

Lincoln; than  did  Rawlins  to  round  out,  into 

complete  symmetry,  the  character  and  military  genius  of  U. 
S.  Grant.  No  storied  urn  or  stately  monument  yet  marks 
his  resting  place.  The  Amphictyons — his  brothers,  would, 
if  they  could,  place  above  his  dust  a  monument  that  would 
meet  the  sun  in  his  coming,  and  whose  last  departing  rays 
would  linger  and  play  upon  its  summit.  Illinois  is  proud  of 
her  son.  Time  alone  will  reveal  to  her  the  debt  of  gratitude 
which  she  owes  to  the  intellectual,  the  brave,  the  devoted 
John  A.  Rawlins. 

"Wallace!  At  the  mention  of  thy  name  a  flood  of  old 
associations  and  memories  come  thronging  to  the  hearts  of 
many  who  knew  thee  in  young  manhood  at  Mount  Morris. 

"He  fell  on  Shiloh's  field  while  facing  fearful  odds.    He 
met  his  fate,  amid  the  thunder  roar  of  red-mouthed  cannon 
'where  sabres  were  clashing  and  death  shot  were  pouring': 
"For  how  can  man  die  better 

Than  in  facing  fearful  odds, 
For  the  ashes  of  his  fathers, 
And  the  temples  of  his  Gods." 

After  the  Northwestern  University  at  Evanston  was  es 
tablished,  the  old  Seminary  did  not  have  its  former  patron 
age  and  did  not  pay  expenses,  and  was  finally  sold  on  a 
mortgage.  Robert  R.  Hitt  bought  it  in,  at  the  earnest 
desire  of  his  mother,  and  afterwards  sold  it  to  the  Dunkard 
denomination,  and  it  is  now  called  the  Mount  Morris 
College. 

[7] 


CHAPTER  II. 
GOES  TO  OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS.    STUDIES  LAW. 

PROFESSOR   D.    J.    PINCKNEY,   the   principal   of 
the  Rock  River  Seminary  for  many  years,  was  a  "truly 
great  man  as  a  teacher  and  seemed  to  possess  preemi 
nent  power  to  interest  young  men  and  attach  them  to 
him."     As  one  of  his  students  in  after  years  said  of  him, 
"His  life  was  a  poem  in  itself."    When  young  Wallace  left 
school  and  home  to.  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  this 
friend  and  teacher  gave  him  the  following  letter  of  intro 
duction,  which  is  both  complimentary  and  prophetic: 

"RocK  RIVER  SEMINARY,  December  7,  1844. 
"This  may  certify  that  the  bearer,  Wm  H.  L.  Wallace, 
has  been  for  more  than  three  years  a  student  and  instructor 
in  the  R.  R.  Sem'y,  more  than  two  years  of  which  time  I 
have  had  the  pleasure  of  being  personally  and  intimately 
acquainted  with  him.  From  an  intimate  and,  as  I  think, 
thorough  knowledge  of  his  talents,  attainments,  character 
and  habits,  I  am  fully  prepared,  and  embrace  with  great 
satisfaction  the  opportunity  now  offered,  to  recommend  him 
to  the  friendship  and  kind  attention  of  those  with  whom  his 
lot  may  hereafter  be  cast. 

I  have  no  hesitancy  in  predicting  that  his  success  in 
life,  if  at  all  comparable  to  his  merits  will  be  preeminent; 
and,  hoping  that  his  course  may  be  as  much  onward  and  up 
ward,  his  reputation  as  unsullied,  his  friends  as  firm  and 
faithful,  as  they  have  hitherto  been,  I  remain  ever 

"His  quandom  instructor  and  faithful  friend  as  also  the 
humble  servant  of  all 

"Who  may  befriend  him. 

"DANL  J.  PINCKNEY, 
"Principal  of  the  Seminary." 

But  Professor  Pinckney,  desiring  his  pupil's  best  welfare, 
could  be  also  Mentor  as  well  as  earnest  friend,  as  is  shown 
in  an  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  him  to  Wallace  the 
26th  of  the  same  month — "If  you  do  ,  not  look  to  your 

[8] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

grammar,  as  the  schoolmaster  would  say  when  you  write 
letters,  you'll  be  scolded  hard.  Carelessness  in  little  things 
is  productive  of  much  evil  to  public  men.  This  is  imperti 
nent,  Will,  I  know,  but  you  must  excuse  it  because  of  the 
Intention.  In  writing,  a  man  must  be  careful  to  form  cor 
rect  habits,  or,  when  crowded  with  business,  he  will  mourn 
the  want  of  habitual  correctness.  For  three  or  four  years 
be  most  scrupulously  exact  in  all  your  business,  incidental — 
off-hand  writing  after  that  you  may  go  on  swimmingly  and 
carelessly  because  habitual.  Neither  scowl  nor  fret  at 
this  homily  as  needless  or  inapropos  in  a  friendly  letter. 
You  know  these  things,  I  acknowledge;  but  you  will  be 
prone  to  neglect  them  in  common  writing,  and  soon  all  your 
writing  will  be  common.  But  here  I  resign  the  office  of 
Mentor,  which  ill  suits  me,  and  talk  to  you  as  I  was  wont  to 
talk  in  days  of  yore.  Oh !  'tis  ever  so,  the  past,  the  past ! — 
how  much  of  the  mind  it  fills,  how  much  of  our  joy  and 
sorrow  it  engrosses !  What  a  kind  of  vacuum  is  mind  with 
out  it." 

In  the  winter  of  1844,  after  some  preliminary  legal  study, 
Mr.  Wallace  went  with  his  stepmother's  brother,  the  Hon. 
Samuel  Hitt,  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  to  Springfield, 
intending  to  study  law  with  Logan  and  Lincoln.  In  the 
long  stage  journey  they  fell  in  with  the  Hon.  T.  Lyle 
Dickey,  of  Ottawa. 

Arrived  at  Springfield,  Mr.  Dickey  and  Mr.  Wallace 
took  a  suite  of  rooms  together  and  Wallace  assisted  Mr. 
Dickey  in  preparing  his  cases  for  the  Supreme  Court  then 
in  session  there.  The  result  of  this  intimacy  was  that  young 
Wallace  arranged  to  go  to  Ottawa — his  home  henceforth, 
and  entered  the  law  office  of  T.  Lyle  Dickey  instead  of  that 
of  Logan  and  Lincoln. 

Mr.  Dickey  was  especially  proud  of  his  eldest  little  girl, 
Ann,  and  when  in  Springfield  had  received  a  letter  from  her, 
then  a  little  girl  of  twelve  years,  which  he  read  out  loud  to 
a  little  circle  of  friends.  Among  the  number  was  the  grave 
young  man  of  twenty-three,  Mr.  Wallace.  The  thought 
flashed  through  his  brain — "What  if  that  bright,  winning 
little  girl  should  some  day  be  my  wife — time  will  show." 

Mr.  Wallace  studied  for  a  year  when  he  was  admitted  to 

[9] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

the  bar,  being  duly  examined  by  John  Dean  Caton  and 
Samuel  H.  Treat,  Justices  of  the  Supreme  Court ;  the  2d  of 
December,  1845,  he  took  the  oath— "I,  William  H.  L.  Wal 
lace,  do  solemnly  swear  that  I  will  support  the  Constitution 
of  the  United  States  and  of  said  State,  and  that  I  will  well 
and  truly  and  faithfully  perform  the  duties  of  an  attorney 
at  law  according  to  the  best  of  my  knowledge,  understand 
ing  and  ability."  Which  promise  he  faithfully  kept  even  to 
the  giving  of  his  life's  blood. 

His  friend,  James  C.  Parks,  writes  to  him  in  May,  1845, 
from  Buffalo,  where  he  was  studying  for  the  ministry : 

"You  speak  of  our  professions  differing.  They  do,  but 
responsibility  in  one  runs  parallel  with  the  other.  There 
was  a  time  when  the  administration  of  justice,  pleadings  for 
the  oppressed  and  for  precepts  of  law  and  the  preaching  of 
righteousness  were  all  blended  in  the  same  man,  or  per 
formed  by  the  same  individual,  and  that,  too,  in  accordance 
with  the  instructions  of  the  Divine  Law-giver.  From  this 
to  infer  that  he  who  takes  a  license  to  indulge  in  all  kinds 
of  trickery  of  which  he  is  capable  merely  because  he  is  a 
lawyer  misunderstands  the  obligations  of  his  profession  and 
the  origin  of  the  precepts  he  pretends  to  advocate.  I  must 
say  when  I  first  heard  you  say  you  were  intending  to  pursue 
the  study  of  law  I  felt  gratified.  I  looked  forward  to  a 
time  when  you  might  aid  at  least  in  making  the  law  pro 
fession  what  it  should  be  and  in  driving  loafers  and  dema 
gogues  from  the  bar." 

Mr.  Wallace  stepped  into  the  pleasant  social  circles  of 
Ottawa — where  were  many  bright  men  whose  names  went 
far  beyond  their  own  town  borders.  Ottawa  was  settled 
largely  by  educated  and  cultivated  people  from  New  York 
State,  with  a  sprinkling  from  Pennsylvania,  and  Kentucky, 
Being  a  county  seat  and  having  the  Supreme  Court  and 
other  courts  meet  there,  the  legal  profession  held  a  leading 
position,  giving  the  town  an  atmosphere  of  culture  almost 
from  the  beginning. 

The  town  is  beautifully  situated,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Fox  as  it  enters  the  tranquil  and  beautiful  Illinois  River. 
High  bluffs  to  the  north  and  south,  the  town  itself  in  a  val 
ley.  Rich  prairie  farm  lands  lying  in  all  directions.  Varied 

[10] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

scenery  down  the  banks  of  the  picturesque  Illinois  River, 
of  canons,  and  the  far-famed  Starved  Rock  seven  miles  be 
low  the  town,  with  its  historic  interests,  both  from  the  early 
French  explorers  and  the  no  less  picturesque,  but  ill  fated 
tribe  of  Illini  Indians.  A  few  miles  distant  is  the  Deer 
Park  Glen,  where  in  old  Indian  days  the  guileless  deer  were 
driven  in  and  captured.  Nature  with  a  lavish  hand  en 
dowed  Ottawa  with  her  beauties,  it  remained  for  man  to 
mar  or  improve  the  opportunities  given  him. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  steadily  rising  in  his  chosen  profession, 
working  earnestly  and  industriously,  gaining  friends  both 
near  and  far.  But  his  old  friends  of  his  Alma  Mater  did 
not  lose  sight  of  him,  as  in  March,  1846,  came  a  letter  from 
there,  saying  they  intended  having  a  public  debate  at  the 
close  of  the  term  and  desired  a  large  attendance  of  all  old 
members  of  the  Amphictyon  Society.  Three  of  the  number 
were  especially  requested  to  prepare  each  an  address  to  de 
liver  on  that  occasion.  They  were  S.  M.  Fellows,  J.  H. 
Beveridge  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 

When  the  time  came  for  the  debate  to  occur,  Mr.  Wal 
lace  was  on  sterner  work  intent  than  addressing  a  college 
debating  society.  He  with  his  company  was  speeding  down 
the  Mississippi  to  take  part  in  the  Mexican  War  then  in 
progress. 

One  of  the  other  students  chosen  with  Mr.  Wallace  to 
address  the  society,  S.  M.  Fellows,  afterwards  a  college 
president,  wrote  him  a  letter  about  this  time.  It  could  not  be 
seen  at  that  date  what  an  important  acquisition  was  to  be 
ours  in  annexing  Oregon,  California  and  Texas  to  the  ter 
ritory  of  the  United  States.  "May  1848.  I  suppose  you  in 
tend  to  be  here  at  the  close  of  the  term  if  not  before.  I  am 
afraid  but  few  of  the  old  students  will  find  it  convenient  to 
be  here,  though  I  hope  they  will  come  up  and  help  to  enliven 
the  occasion.  If  all  the  Amphictyons  could  meet  they  would 
present  a  pretty  strong  phalanx  of  talent  and  ability. 
Enough  at  any  rate  to  give  the  world  a  pretty  good  stirring 
wherever  they  may  be.  By  the  way,  what  subject  have  you 
selected  for  your  address  for  the  close  of  the  term  ?  I  have 
not  determined  what  I  shall  write  about.  *  *  *  * 

"The  warlike  spirit  of  your  letter  considerably  alarmed 

[11] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

me.  What!  you  become  a  soldier?  Why  if  you  wish  to  do 
that  you  should  enlist  in  the  royal  guards  of  Prussia,  where 
you  could  be  surrounded  by  your  peers.  Perhaps  though 
your  disposition  would  lead  you  to  prefer  a  situation  where 
your  eminence  would  be  conspicuous.  But  really,  Wallace, 
are  you  in  earnest  about  military  glory?  Do  you  think  you 
could  face  the  cannon's  mouth  and  rush  upon  the  glittering 
steel  of  an  enemy?  Not  that  I  would  wish  to  intimate  a  want 
of  true  courage  in  your  composition,  but  I  should  almost 
hope  you  were  deficient  in  this  kind  of  brutal  courage.  I 
have  not  been  able  to  bring  myself  to  believe  that  we  should 
be  involved  in  a  war  with  England  on  the  Oregon  question. 
I  do  not  think  that  two  such  nations  as  the  United  States 
and  Great  Britain  will  resort  to  this  ultimatum.  Neither 
power  could  conquer  the  other,  and  after  a  ten  years'  war, 
the  matter  must  be  settled  by  negotiation  as  entirely  as  it 
would  be  without  war. 

"And  even  if  we  should  succeed  in  obtaining  the  whole 
of  the  territory,  which  is  quite  improbable,  it  would  be  a  mis 
erable  compensation  for  the  loss  of  millions  of  money  and 
thousands  of  lives. 

"Of  the  war  in  Mexico,  or  rather  with  Mexico,  late  ac 
counts  seem  to  make  it  quite  certain  that  hostilities  have 
really  commenced.  Whether  it  will  be  prosecuted  with 
much  vigor  by  Mexico  is  very  doubtful.  I  do  not  exactly 
understand  this  question  of  national  interference,  but  I  can 
see  no  reason  why  England  or  France  should  have  anything 
to  do  with  the  Mexican  affair.  Even  if  the  United  States 
should  conquer  and  annex  Mexico,  which  I  hope  they  will 
not  do — it  would  be  only  acting  upon  the  principle  of  the 
British  in  Asia.  There  they  conquer  and  subject  whole 
countries  without  scruple  as  to  its  righteousness. 

"For  my  own  part  I  have  not  much  desire  for  the  honor 
and  glory  of  a  military  hero,  and  shall  not  probably  start 
for  the  seat  of  war  immediately." 


[12] 


CHAPTER  III. 
MEXICAN  WAR.    JOURNEY  TO  MEXICO. 

THE  war  with  Mexico  was  now  actually  a  fact.  Ever 
since  Texas  had  gained  her  independence  from  Mex 
ico  and  joined  the  United  States  as  an  integral  part  of 
the  Union  there  had  been  friction  over  boundary  lines. 
When  the  Mexican  soldiery  actually  shed  the  blood  of 
Americans  on  American  soil,  the  war  spirit  was  aroused. 
Congress  on  the  llth  of  May,  1846,  acknowledged  that  war 
already  existed  by  the  act  of  the  Mexican  government  and 
placed  ten  million  dollars  at  the  disposal  of  the  President  to 
prosecute  the  war. 

War  meetings  were  held  in  all  parts  of  the  country  and 
within  a  few  weeks  three  hundred  thousand  men  rushed 
forward  to  join  the  ranks.  Six  regiments  went  from  Illi 
nois.  In  La  Salle  County  the  war  spirit  also  found  its  way. 
T.  Lyle  Dickey  gave  up  his  fine  law  practice  and  organized 
one  of  the  first  companies,  of  which  he  was  chosen  Captain. 
W.  H.  L.  Wallace  naturally  followed.  He  enlisted  as  pri 
vate,  but  was  soon  elected  Second  Lieutenant.  This  company 
from  Ottawa  and  vicinity  consisted  of  seventy-five  men. 

The  company  was  organized  in  May,  going  direct  to  Al 
ton,  where  they  were  attached  to  the  First  Regiment,  of 
which  John  J.  Hardin  was  Colonel.  The  other  regiments 
were  here  also.  The  Second,  under  Colonel  William  H.  Bis- 
sel.  The  Third,  under  Colonel  I.  H.  Farman,  and  the  Fourth 
under  Colonel  Ned  Baker.  All  four  were  organized  and 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  for  one  year. 
In  July  these  four  regiments  were  sent  to  New  Orleans  and 
there  divided,  the  First  and  Second  going  to  San  Antonio; 
the  Third  and  Fourth  to  Vera  Cruz. 

The  American  forces  were  organized  in  three  divisions 
for  the  invasion  of  Mexico,  as  planned  by  General  Scott: 
The  Army  of  the  West,  under  General  Kearney,  was  to 
cross  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  conquer  the  Northern  Mex 
ican  provinces :  The  Army  of  the  Centre,  under  General 

[13] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Scott  as  commander-in-chief,  was  to  march  from  the  gulf 
into  the  heart  of  the  enemy's  country.  The  Army  of  Occu 
pation,  commanded  by  General  Taylor,  was  to  subdue  and 
hold  the  districts  on  the  Rio  Grande. 

The  work  of  mustering  the  American  troops  was  en 
trusted  to  General  Wool.  By  the  middle  of  the  summer  he 
succeeded  in  dispatching  to  General  Taylor  a  force  of  nine 
thousand  men.  He  established  his  camp  at  San  Antonio, 
Texas,  and  from  that  point  prepared  the  gathering  recruits 
for  the  field.  Meanwhile  General  Taylor  resumed  active 
operations  on  the  Rio  Grande,  pushing  on  toward  the  forti- 
ned  town  of  Monterey. 

The  company  and  regiment  in  which  W.  H.  L.  Wallace 
was  serving  joined  the  Army  of  Occupation  under  General 
Taylor.  From  letters  and  a  journal  written  by  Mr.  Wallace 
and  here  given,  a  pretty  full  account  is  received  of  this  part 
of  the  year's  campaign  in  Mexico  of  the  First  Regiment's 
movements.  Mr.  Wallace's  first  letter  is  from  Alton  on 
July  3d: 

"On  the  ground  in  our  immediate  vicinity  are  encamped 
some  fifteen  hundred  troops,  some  of  the  companies  well 
trained,  and  the  whole  presenting  a  scene  to  me  novel  and 
highly  enchanting.  I  just  begin  to  enjoy  the  life  of  a  sol 
dier — for  my  duties  have  been  so  arduous  up  to  this  time 
that  I  had  not  time  to  enjoy  anything  but  my  mess  and  my 
sleep." 

On  July  19th,  he  writes  in  his  journal:  "Six  companies 
of  the  First  Regiment  embarked  on  the  Steamer  Hanibal  at 
an  early  hour.  Before  we  could  get  on  board  our  men  had 
to  stand  for  an  hour  on  the  bank,  and  those  who  were 
drunkenly  inclined  slipped  out  of  the  ranks  and  filled  their 
canteens  with  "Old  Red  Eye,"  and  by  noon  we  had  a  fine 
set  of  fellows  to  manage.  One  of  our  privates,  Frank  — , 
was  particularly  savage  and  I  was  charged  by  Major  War 
ren  with  the  unpleasant  duty  of  choking  him  into  submis 
sion.  His  rum  and  rage  threw  him  into  a  fit  from  which  he 
came  near  dying.  But  as  soon  as  he  was  held  up  and  re 
ceived  fresh  air  he  seemed  to  acquire  fresh  madness  and 
he  kept  the  whole  company  in  disorder  until  twelve  o'clock. 
Something  must  be  done  with  the  fellow." 

[14] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

As  they  passed  down  the  river  they  stopped  but  an  hour 
at  St.  Louis,  where  he  says :  "We  anchored  in  the  stream 
between  the  foot  of  'Bloody  Island'  and  St.  Louis.  I  won 
der  that  ever  a  duel  was  fought  on  'Bloody  Island/  One 
would  imagine  that  in  crossing  the  dark  and  angry  current 
of  the  river,  some  thought  of  the  impassable  gulf  over 
which  one  or  both  combatants  were  likely  to  pass  would 
stay  their  murderous  hands.  I  looked  upon  the  sandy  banks 
and  willow  shade  of  this  'dark  and  bloody  ground'  with 
emotion.  Desolate  and  dreary  as  it  is  in  itself,  it  appears 
yet  more  so  when  we  see  it  surrounded  and  cut  off  on  all 
sides  by  this  boiling  Mississippi.  I  have  been  studying  this 
strange  river  all  day.  As  we  left  Alton  I  saw  we  were  sail 
ing  on  a  clear  and  beautiful  stream.  My  attention  was 
called  to  business  in  the  cabin  and  when  I  looked  again,  the 
river  was  as  muddy  as  a  frog  pond.  My  first  impression 
was  we  were  running  in  shoal  water,  but  in  looking  around, 
it  was  all  the  same,  the  river  seemed  to  have  undergone 
some  necromantic  change — that  some  demon  was  stirring 
the  'Father  of  Waters.'  It  is  indeed  a  mysterious  and  ter 
rible  stream.  Nothing  of  romance  about  it,  and  nothing  to 
render  it  an  object  of  admiration  but  its  immensity.  It  was 
Sunday  when  we  went  ashore  at  St.  Louis,  and  the  quiet 
narrow  streets  appeared  to  me  like  some  deserted  town  of 
the  old  world.  The  mighty  business  heart  of  the  city  had 
ceased  its  pulsation  and  the  quiet  wharfs  and  streets  pre 
sented  a  vivid  contrast  to  the  hurrying  stream  that  pelted 
along  at  their  foot.  *  *  *  *  Our  quarters  are  com 
fortable,  much  more  so  than  I  had  anticipated.  The  officers 
have  the  whole  of  both  cabins  and  the  men  are  conveniently 
quartered  in  different  parts  of  the  boat.  We  are  making 
a  fine  run.  We  have  on  board  Brigadier  General  Shields, 
who  has  orders  to  join  General  Taylor  with  two  regiments, 
the  Third  and  Fourth.  The  First  and  Second  will  land  at 
La  Baca  in  Metagorda  Bay  and  join  General  Wool  at  San 
Antonio  de  Bexar,  who  will  then  march  upon  Chihuahua" 
and,  as  he  writes  to  a  friend :  "I  shall  have  the  opportunity 
of  gratifying  my  wish,  but  whether  you  will  'crown  me.with 
laurel'  depends  much  upon  circumstances." 

He  again  writes  in  his  journal  in  journeying  further 

[15] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

down  the  Mississippi:  "Memphis  is  a  most  lovely  place. 
A  bold  but  not  very  high  bank  rises  from  the  water's  edge, 
and  slopes  back  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach,  and  everywhere 
one  sees  clean  streets  and  whole  blocks  of  new  brick  build 
ings  not  crowded  together,  but  placed  at  a  comfortable  dis 
tance  from  each  other,  as  though  they  dreaded  close  con 
tact  might  cause  sickness  in  this  southern  climate.  It  is  the 
most  beautiful  place  I've  met  anywhere  on  the  route,  and 
when  I  return  I've  a  great  mind  to  settle  there.  Just  before 
reaching  Memphis  our  company  was  ordered  forward  with 
their  knapsacks  and  accoutrements,  but  without  their  arms. 
They  were  all  on  the  qui-vive  to  know  what  this  might 
mean.  Some  said  we  were  to  go  ashore  for  drill  and  some 
that  we  were  to  land  and  join  the  Tennessee  cavalry,  a  reg 
iment  which  were  encamped  opposite  the  town ;  some 
thought  one  thing,  some  another,  but  all  agreed  that  we 
were  to  go  ashore.  As  the  boat  rounded  up  the  Lieutenant 
Colonel  (Weather ford),  with  the  Sergeant-Ma j or,  came  on 
deck  and  the  latter  proceeded  to  read  a  general  order  ad 
dressed  to  Captain  Dickey  ordering  him  to  call  up  Frank 
(the  private  who  behaved  so  badly  on  Sunday),  take  from 
him  his  uniform  and  all  the  public  property  in  his  possession 
and  drum  him  out  of  the  company,  which  was  accordingly 
done  with  all  due  form.  Frank  braved  it  out  until  the  yawl 
touched  the  shore,  swearing  that  'he  would  rather  a  hundred 
times  be  drummed  out  of  that  regiment  than  stay  in  it  and 
be  deprived  of  the  liberty  of  speech  by  choking.'  But  as  he 
stepped  on  shore  the  band  played  the  'Rogues'  March,'  the 
other  companies  hissing  and  hooting  him  and  hallooing  to 
the  people  on  shore  'not  to  stop  that  man  but  let  him  go,  that 
he  was  drummed  out,'  etc.,  the  sense  of  his  disgrace  seemed 
to  force  itself  upon  him,  and  he  walked  up  the  bank  with 
tears  in  his  eyes.  Our  company,  I  am  happy  to  say,  added 
nothing  to  wound  his  feelings,  though  many  of  them  had 
been  sadly  abused  by  him.  The  scene  left  an  impression  on 
the  minds  of  all  that  will  produce  a  good  effect/' 

He  writes  further  in  his  journey:  "July  22d,  passed 
some  most  splendid  plantations.  The  negro  quarters  gener 
ally  appeared  comfortable — even  more,  there  is  an  appear 
ance  of  neatness  and  order  about  them — their  white-washed 

[16] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

walls  and  thick  green  shade  present  an  appearance  of  more 
comfort  than  the  residence  of  nine-tenths  of  their  fanatical 
friends  at  the  North.  The  country  to-day  has  looked  more 
like  living  than  any  thing  since  leaving  St.  Louis.  Broad 
fields  covered  with  heavy  crops  of  corn  and  cotton — fine 
residences  buried  in  rich  foliage  of  the  China  tree,  which 
is  peculiar  to  this  climate,  tall  forests  of  cypress  from  whose 
branches  hang  long  pendants  of  Spanish  moss — extensive 
orchards  of  peaches,  the  rich  fruit  glistening  in  the  sun  as 
we  ran  near  the  shore  and  looking  as  tempting  in  our  eyes 
as  did  the  forbidden  fruit  to  Mother  Eve."  *  *  *  *  In 
passing  these  fine  old  plantations,  he  further  says :  "I  like 
the  state  of  these  old  planters,  each  being  in  his  own  castle 
on  his  own  domain,  with  his  own  retainers  about  him — there 
is  a  charm  of  chivalry  about  it  that  delights  me.  *  *  * 

"Yesterday  some  of  the  high-blooded  lieutenants  of  the 
regiment  saw  fit  to  amuse  themselves  with  the  genteel  game 
of  poker.  This  morning  General  Shields  called  a  meeting 
of  the  officers  in  the  after  cabin  and  read  to  them  the  army 
regulation  respecting  gaming.  He  also  proposed  to  close 
the  bar  against  all,  both  officers  and  men,  which  proposition 
met  with  general  opposition.  *  *  *  *  July  24th. 
Through  a  scene  that  throws  the  Arabian  Nights  into  the 
shade.  *  *  *  *  We  are  gliding  on  toward  the  Cres 
cent  City.  On  either  bank  is  a  street  of  planter's  houses, 
negro  quarters  and  sugar  houses,  all  in  the  most  tasteful 
style  and  the  greatest  order  and  neatness.  *  *  *  *  About 
nine  o'clock  we  began  to  reach  the  city  of  New  Orleans  and 
my  first  feeling  was  one  of  disappointment.  There  is  a  dingy 
appearance  about  the  town  as  seen  from  the  river  that  does 
not  comport  with  our  ideas  of  a  magnificent  city,  but  as  we 
passed  on  the  Crescent  City  in  all  its  grand  extent  gradu 
ally  presented  itself,  as  the  tall  spire  of  the  upper  Cathedral 
and  the  lofty  dome  of  the  St.  Charles  hotel  shot  up  their 
fine  proportions  and  we  passed  the  foot  of  long  streets  run 
ning  far  back  with  tall  buildings  almost  overshadowing 
them  on  either  side;  as  we  glided  past  the  forest  of  masts 
at  the  upper  ship  landing  and  entered  the  world  of  steam 
boats  at  their  landing  and  saw  the  wharfs  covered  with  ac 
tive  business  men,  bales  of  goods  and  negroes  attached  to 

[17] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

them  and  heard  the  indescribable  hum  of  a  great  business 
city,  I  began  to  have  some  idea  of  the  immensity  of  the 
place.  And  when  after  landing  the  troops  at  the  battle 
grounds,  I  returned  to  the  city  on  business  and  walked 
through  the  narrow  crowded  streets,  with  millions  of  wealth 
obtruding  itself  upon  the  public  gaze,  when  I  approached 
the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  the  pride  and  glory  of  the  traveling 
world,  with  its  massive  proportions,  Corinthian  columns  and 
majestic  dimensions  covering  an  entire  square  and  ascended 
through  its  six  lofty  stories  to  the  splendid  dome  that  sur 
mounts  it,  and  gazed  upon  the  broad  extent  of  the  city  un 
rolled  at  my  feet  like  a  living  map  with  its  thousand  nar 
row  streets  overhung,  and  almost  shaded  by  the  old  French 
houses,  the  windings  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  blue  glisten 
ing  of  Lake  Pontchartrain  far  into  the  southwest,  with  the 
long  line  of  the  new  'Shell  road'  leading  off  towards  it, 
with  the  hum  of  the  streets  below,  the  old  French  buildings 
rusty  with  age  and  the  dampness  of  the  climate,  my  wonder 
and  admiration  was  roused  to  a  degree  I  never  felt  before. 
I  had  never  seen  a  place  of  more  than  five  thousand  inhab 
itants.  I  took  advantage  of  the  business  I  had  to  do  to  see 
as  much  of  the  place  as  possible.  I  spent  four  dollars  for 
cab  hire  in  visiting  different  parts  of  the  town  besides  run 
ning  myself  down  afoot.  *  *  *  *  I  dined  at  the  St. 
Charles  for  the  gratification  of  seeing  a  good  dinner  eaten 
according  to  the  rules  of  etiquette.  I  relied  on  Colonel  C, 
with  whom  I  went  in,  to  act  as  chaperon,  but  I  found  him 
about  as  green  as  myself.  We  sat  during  the  hour  mincing 
over  some  cold  ham  and  tomatoes  while  the  fashionable 
bloods  around  us  were  cracking  the  champagne  bottles. 

"July  25th.  Slept  upon  the  ground  where  Jackson 
achieved  his  glory  (8th  of  January,  1815),  but  felt  none  of 
Byron's  enthusiasm  upon  the  plains  of  Marathon,  perhaps 
because  I  was  very  tired,  probably  because  I  am  not  Byron. 
*  *  *  *  At  dark  we  embarked  on  board  the  Brig  Al- 
bertina,  a  small  craft  of  two  hundred  tons  that  had  been 
employed  by  the  Quartermaster  to  carry  us  out  to  La  Baca. 
I  find  we  will  be  considerably  crowded  tho'  we  have  only 
our  own  and  Captain  Morgan's  companies  and  the  Quincy 
Riflemen,  the  most  quiet,  gentlemanly  set  of  fellows  in  the 

[18] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

regiment,  and  I  hope  we  shall  have  a  pleasant  trip.  I  am 
glad  we  are  going  by  sailing  vessel ;  it  adds  a  variety  to  our 
journey,  but  whether  it  will  be  a  pleasant  variety  remains 
to  be  seen.  The  vessel  is  small,  but  well  built,  with  a  small 
cabin  on  deck  with  eight  berths.  In  this  seven  by  nine  af 
fair  slept  six  commissioned  officers,  a  surgeon,  captain  of 
the  brig,  a  would-be  gentleman  soldier  named  I.  S.  T.,  and 
two  or  three  sick  privates  of  the  two  companies.  On  deck 
the  men  were  equally  crowded.  There  was  but  one  fire 
place,  on  which  about  four  camp  kettles  could  boil,  and 
here  the  whole  one  hundred  and  eighty  men  had  to  do  their 
cooking,  and  none  but  the  best  natured  fellows  could  have 
got  along  without  quarreling  at  least,  if  not  fighting.  On 
board  the  brig  we  found  provisions  for  thirty  days.  Col 
onel  Hardin  appointed  me  commissary  for  the  trip." 

On  the  31st  of  July  they  sighted  land,  but  did  not  enter 
Metagorda  Bay  until  late,  and  the  companies  did  not  land 
until  the  third  of  August.  On  the  eleventh  they  set  out  on 
the  march  to  San  Antonio,  the  journal  continues :  *  *  * 
"After  crossing  the  creek  we  struck  a  wet  prairie  with  wa 
ter  from  three  inches  to  two  feet  deep  for  eighteen  miles. 
We  reached  Victoria  about  dark,  weary,  wet  and  hungry, 
and  without  cooking  utensils  or  tents,  lay  on  the  wet  ground 
beside  a  frog  pond  in  our  dripping  clothes,  but  I  slept  well." 

They  were  about  two  weeks  on  the  march  and  reached 
San  Antonio  on  the  25th  of  August,  first  camping  at  Mis 
sion  de  Conception  ruins,  and  from  there  they  moved  to 
Camp  Crockett.  The  command  remained  in  San  Antonio 
about  six  weeks.  General  Wool  organized  the  army  here 
to  proceed  to  the  conquest  of  Chihuahua.  "This  army  con 
sisted  of  the  two  Illinois  regiments,  First  and  Second,  an 
Arkansas  regiment  of  infantry,  two  companies  of  Kentucky 
cavalry  under  Major  Williams,  a  body  of  six  hundred  regu- 
ular  cavalry  under  Colonel  Harney,  and  a  battalion  under 
Major  Bourneville,  a  splendid  battery  of  artillery  under 
Captain  Washington,  of  the  Fourth  United  States  Artillery, 
and  an  Engineer  Corps  in  charge  of  Robert  E.  Lee.  These 
batteries,  with  others  under  W.  T.  Sherman  and  the  brave 
Mississippian,  Bragg,  who  afterwards  commanded  the  Con 
federate  forces  at  Chickamauga,  with  two  other  volunteer  . 

[19] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

batteries,  were  what  gave  the  Battle  of  Buena  Vista  to  the 
American  side  with  less  than  five  thousand  men  against 
twenty  thousand  Mexicans/'* 

Although  the  climate  of  San  Antonio  seemed  both  health 
ful  and  delightful,  there  was  much  sickness  among  the  men. 
Captain  Dickey  found  it  necessary  to  resign  on  account  of 
ill  health  and  returned  home  on  September  28th.  B.  M. 
Prentiss  was  made  Captain  in  his  place,  and  W.  H.  L.  Wal 
lace  took  his  place  as  First  Lieutenant  and  Adjutant  of  the 
regiment.  In  writing  to  some  friends  from  Camp  Crockett, 
on  September  23d,  Wallace  says: 

"I  have  been  so  busy  latterly  that  I  fear  the  news  is  all 
written.  M —  and  some  of  the  rest  of  the  boys  spend  most 
of  their  time  in  writing  letters,  journals  and  so  on,  but  it 
has  been  my  peculiar  fortune  in  this  campaign  to  be  placed 
constantly  in  new  positions,  and  before  I  have  fairly  learned 
the  duties  of  one  place  I  find  myself  in  another,  so  that  I 
am  compelled  to  steal  time  from  these  new  duties  to  write 
letters.  I  suppose  you  have  heard  of  my  promotion  to  the 
position  of  Adjutant  of  the  regiment.  I  say  it  not  in  the 
spirit  of  boasting,  but  looking  back  upon  my  course  for  the 
last  three  or  four  months  I  can  but  be  thankful  for  my  good 
fortune.  First  a  Sergeant  of  the  line,  then  a  Lieutenant  and 
now  Adjutant  of  the  First  Regiment,  truly  I  have  taken  a 
rise! 

"But  these  new  places  successfully  presented  new  and 
arduous  duties,  and  in  my  anxiety  to  learn  to  fill  my  place  I 
have  sometimes,  perhaps,  appeared  neglectful  of  my  friends. 
You  will  receive  this  by  the  hand  of  Captain  Dickey.  The 
cause  of  his  going  home  is  ill  health,  and  no  circumstance 
that  has  occurred  since  we  left  home  has  caused  me  more 
regret  than  to  be  deprived  of  his  company.  But  this  climate 
would  kill  him  in  short  time.  He  stuck  to  it  bravely,  but  it 
would  not  do,  the  only  safety  for  him  was  in  returning  as 
rapidly  as  possible. 

"Our  company  is  now  commanded  by  Captain  Prentiss, 
the  late  Adjutant,  and  the  best  officer  in  the  two  regiments." 

*William  Osman. 

[20] 


CHAPTER  IV. 
MARCHING  INTO  MEXICO. 

ON  October  2d  the  First  Regiment  left  San  Antonio 
and  crossed  the  Rio  Grande  at  Presidio.  There  on  the 
13th  Wallace  writes  in  his  journal  of  meeting  Gen 
eral  Shields  and  G.  T.  M.  Davis,  and  hearing  of  the  hard 
fighting  at  Monterey.  They  continued  their  march  and  on 
the  16th  reached  San  Juan  de  Navo  after  twenty-five  miles 
of  hard  marching  with  no  water.  They  still  continued,  and 
on  the  17th  and  18th  encamped  near  the  mountains  for  the 
first  time.  On  the  19th  they  encamped  on  a  plain  near  wa 
ter,  but  an  arid  stony  country  with  no  wood.  From  this  point 
an  interesting  letter  is  written  from  Wallace  to  his  father : 

"Camp  80  miles  west  of  the  Rio  Grande, 

October  19,  1846. 

"As  an  express  starts  in  the  morning  for  San  Antonio, 
and  as  this  is  our  only  mode  of  communication  with  the 
civilized  world,  I  snatch  a  moment  from  other  duties  to 
write  you.  *  *  *  *  We  have  gotten  so  far  into  the 
'bowels  of  the  land,'  that  all  certain  conveyance  is  cut  off. 
We  left  San  Antonio  on  the  second  instant;  the  last  de 
tachment  of  the  division  leaves  there  in  a  day  or  two  from 
this  time;  they  may  bring  some  letters;  if  so,  they  will  be 
the  last  from  that  way;  for  they  will  bring  along  all  the 
public  stores,  and  the  route  will  be  abandoned  and  we  enter 
Mexico,  like  Cortez,  cutting  off  all  possible  retreat. 

"We  passed  the  Rio  Grande  on  the  thirteenth,  after  a 
march  of  twelve  days  from  San  Antonio,  a  distance  of  one 
hundred  and  eighty  miles.  Six  miles  distant  from  the  river 
we  passed  through  a  Mexican  town  of  fifteen  hundred  in 
habitants  called  Presidio.  It  is  a  long,  straggling  street,  with 
mud  huts  scattered  along  its  sides  for  near  a  mile.  Three 
miles  out  from  Presidio  we  encamped  with  the  advance 
corps,  which  had  preceeded  us  five  days.  We  were  here 
joined  by  General  Shields  and  G.  T.  M.  Davis  of  Illinois. 

[21] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

General  Shields  took  command  of  all  the  infantry,  and  on 
the  morning  of  the  sixteenth  we  took  up  the  line  of  march 
for  Manclova." 

While  on  the  march  Wallace  received  a  letter  from  his 
old  friend  and  mentor,  Professor  Pickney,  who  gives  his 
quandom  pupil  sage  advice  as  to  his  actions,  even  in  war 
fare  :  "Ah !  war  is  a  sorry  game,  which,  were  people  wise, 
kings  would  never  play  at;  query,  would  Presidents?  But 
I  said  there  was  a  kind  of  glory  in  it,  good  and  true,  earned 
as  in  every  state  of  life,  by  discharging  duty:  and  that  is 
not  to  see  how  often  we  can  kill,  how  near  he  can  get  to  the 
front  and  thickest  of  the  fight :  but  to  wisely,  carefully,  hu 
manly  consider  how,  with  the  least  suffering  to  his  friends 
and  foes,  he  can  effect  the  greatest  good  to  his  country? 
Yes,  and  to  the  enemy's,  too.  Don't  lose  sight  of  that,  Will. 
There  are  men,  some  good,  true,  useful, — you  are  not  per 
sonally  opposed  to  them  nor  they  to  you.  You  and  every 
man  and  all  the  boys  in  our  army  are  bound  to  act  for  their 
good.  The  spirit  of  party  raging  in  the  ranks  will  have  a 
powerful  tendency  to  make  you  forget  that  you  are  any 
thing  else  but  a  soldier  of  the  Union :  Think  of  Goldsmith's 
very  just  satire  on  Ed.  Burke — 

"  Who,  born  for  the  Universe,  narrowed  his  mind 
And  to  party  gave  up  what  was  meant  for  mankind.'  " 

On  the  20th  the  army  continued  their  march  and  reached 
Los  Alamas,  a  deep  and  rapid  mountain  stream  which  they 
cross  on  the  21st.  The  Santa  Rosa  Mountains  were  like  a 
dark  cloud  in  the  distant  west.  On  the  24th  they  passed 
through  the  pretty  little  town  of  Santa  Rosa,  and  reached 
Hot  Springs  on  the  28th.  On  the  30th  they  encamped  three 
miles  from  Monclova  and  on  November  2d  they  marched 
through  the  town  and  camped  near  there  until  the  24th  of 
the  month.  Monclova  was  the  capital  of  Coahuila  and  a 
city  of  eight  thousand  inhabitants.  From  this  camping  place 
Wallace  writes  his  father : 

"Camp  near  Monclova,  Mexico, 
"November  6,  1846. 

"I  believe  I  wrote  you  while  on  the  march  from  San  An 
tonio,  but  in  the  hurry  and  bustle  of  new  events  I  have  no 

[22] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

distinct  recollection  of  what  I  wrote  and  from  what  precise 
point.  These  letters  seem  to  me  like  firing  at  the  moon,  the 
distance  is  so  great  and  the  means  of  communication  so  un 
certain.  Yet  I  cannot  resist  the  inclination  to  write  when 
ever  I  have  any  time  or  any  thing  like  an  opportunity  of 
sending. 

"We  are  now  lying  in  camp  on  the  edge  of  the  town  of 
Monclova,  a  place  of  some  eight  thousand  inhabitants,  situ 
ated  at  the  foot  of  a  lofty  and  barren  chain  of  mountain 
range.  In  whatever  direction  you  look  from  the  camp  the 
bold  or  indistinct  outlines  of  these  mountains,  as  they  are 
near  or  remote,  rise  like  mighty  barriers  to  oppose  our  pro 
gress  or  our  retreat.  A  stream  comes  down  from  the  moun 
tain,  rushes  past  the  town,  supplying  innumerable  ducts  and 
hydrants  watering  every  part  of  the  town.  A  broad  valley 
of  fine  land  borders  this  stream  and  is  dotted  here  and  there 
with  ranches  and  haciendas  (cattle  and  plain  farms),  some 
of  them  in  a  fine  state  of  cultivation,  covered  with  luxuri 
ant  crops,  corn,  cotton  and  sugar  cane.  All  the  cultivated 
lands  here  require  to  be  irrigated,  and  for  this  purpose  their 
fields  and  farms  are  intersected  with  numerous  ditches  run 
ning  in  every  direction.  The  farms  or  ranches  are  generally 
miserable  affairs,  with  little  or  no  fencing  and  mud  huts, 
though  occasionally  we  passed  one  of  a  superior  order. 
Two  days  before  we  reached  here  we  encamped  at  the  Hot 
Springs,  where  was  the  finest  hacienda  I  have  seen.  The 
main  buildings  and  out  houses,  including  a  sugar  house  and 
store,  were  enclosed  by  a  heavy  stone  wall  twelve  feet  high, 
the  whole  covering  a  space  of  seven  acres.  The  place  is 
owned  by  two  brothers,  Sanchez,  one  of  whom  lives  in  Sal- 
tillo,  and  the  other  in  the  City  of  Mexico.  They  own  all  the 
county  from  San  Fernando  to  this  place  and  on  to  near 
Saltillo,  a  scope  of  country  some  two  hundred  and  fifty 
miles  in  extent.  The  hacienda  is  now  occupied  by  Senor 
Miguel  Blanco,  a  nephew  of  Sanchez.  He  works  one  hun 
dred  and  sixty  servants.  I  visited  every  part  of  the  estab 
lishment  in  company  with  a  Texan  who  speaks  Spanish. 
The  quarters  of  the  working  people  were  far  inferior  to 
those  of  the  slaves  on  the  Mississippi,  but  appeared  neat  and 
clean  as  far  as  could  be.  A  system  of  slavery  exists  here 

[23] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L  .WALLACE 

which  is  not  an  improvement  on  the  slavery  in  our  Southern 
States.  Whenever  a  man  is  in  debt,  his  creditor  sues  him, 
gets  a  judgment,  and  if  the  debtor  has  not  the  means  to 
satisfy  it,  the  creditor  may  take  him  as  his  servant  and  com 
pel  him  to  work  out  the  debt  at  the  rate  of  three  dollars 
per  month,  finding  his  own  clothes.  I  am  told  that  hun 
dreds  of  men  here  enter  this  kind  of  service  to  avoid  being 
drafted  into  the  army. 

"Before  he  can  discharge  the  original  debt,  they  have 
necessarily  contracted  others,  and  thus  they  continue  for 
years  in  slavery  until  old  age  and  hard  labor  have  made  them 
unfit  for  further  service  and  then  they  are  released  to  the 
wretched  liberty  of  a  penniless  old  age.  The  difference  in 
the  classes  is  as  distinctly  marked  here  as  in  the  slave  states. 
The  peons,  or  servants,  are  generally  a  dark,  swarthy,  shag 
gy-haired  race,  evidently  a  mixture  of  Indian  and  negro, 
with  occasionally  a  touch  of  the  Spanish  blood.  The  lead 
ing  men  and  men  of  wealth  are  much  whiter  and  more  in 
telligent  in  appearance,  and  some  of  the  women  of  the  upper 
classes  are  decidedly  beautiful. 

"It  is  difficult  to  tell  their  true  feelings  toward  us — 
some  of  them  confess  to  be  greatly  dissatisfied  with  the 
rapacity  and  imbecility  of  the  Central  Government,  and  are 
very  willing  to  sell  us  corn  and  other  commodities  at  about 
three  prices.  On  the  other  hand,  I  have  concluded  from 
what  I  have  seen  in  Monclova  that  there  is  a  deep  feeling 
of  hostility  toward  us ;  and  I  know  that  Senor  Blanco,  at  the 
Hot  Springs,  had  assembled  a  considerable  force  at  his 
hacienda  to  oppose  our  progress,  and  only  disbanded  it  a 
few  days  before  our  arrival. 

"I  am  informed  by  a  young  Spaniard,  a  resident  of  Mon 
clova,  who  speaks  English,  that  the  priests  exerted  their  ut 
most  influence  to  raise  the  people  against  us,  representing 
us  as  a  plundering  band  with  whom  their  property  and  fam 
ilies  would  be  ruined.  Thus  far,  they  have  nothing  to  com 
plain  of,  and  indeed,  they  say  themselves  that  we  are  not 
half  so  great  a  terror  to  them  as  their  own  armies.  From 
the  policy  that  General  Wool  has  adopted,  I  think  we  will 
not  give  them  any  reason  to  complain.  We  pay  them  their 

[24] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

own  price  for  every  thing  we  get  from  them,  and  the  war 
thus  far  is  more  injury  to  us  than  to  Mexico. 

"General  Shields  thinks  all  these  northern  provinces  are 
ripe  for  revolution.  He  came  up  from  Metemoras  to  Pre 
sidio  and  was  very  kindly  received  by  the  authoritives  of  all 
the  frontier  towns,  and  the  feeling  he  found  there  is  what 
he  bases  his  presumption  upon.  But  I've  no  doubt  he  over 
estimates  the  extent  of  this  feeling ;  if  we  should  meet  with 
any  reverses  these  very  fellows  who  are  now  so  kind  and  so 
full  of  professions  of  friendship,  would  be  the  first  to  cut 
our  throats.  Treachery  is  a  characteristic  of  the  race,  and 
after  getting  all  our  money  I've  no  doubt  they  would  shoot 
us  for  the  sake  of  our  clothes.  I  don't  think  they  will  ever 
fight  us  with  anything  like  equal  numbers.  Taylor's  victory 
at  Monterey  over  a  superior  force,  and  that  force  en 
trenched,  has  frightened  them.  It  is  said  that  Santa  Ana 
is  now  fortifying  San  Luis  Potosi,  and  if  peace  is  not  con 
cluded  before  the  expiration  of  the  armistice  General  Tay 
lor  will  push  on  to  that  point;  and  our  greatest  hope  is  to 
join  him.  Wool  is  very  unpopular  with  the  command;  he 
has  quarreled  with  every  field  officer  in  it.  His  orders  are 
positive  and  peremptory  to  go  to  Chihuahua  and  take  the 
place.  There  are  two  places  on  the  Rio  Grande  named 
Presidio  and  another  town  in  the  province  of  Chihuahua 
named  Monclova.  Wool,  mistaking  his  orders,  now  finds 
himself  after  a  march  of  four  hundred  miles  over  moun 
tains  and  rapids  and  deep  rivers  as  far  and  some  farther 
from  Chihuahua  than  when  at  San  Antonio,  and  the  route 
from  this  place  is  almost  impracticable,  and  as  I  said  before, 
our  only  hope  is  to  be  detached  from  this  column  and  sent 
to  General  Taylor,  to  meet  him  at  Saltillo  after  the  termina 
tion  of  the  armistice.  General  Wool  is  very  old  and  a  very 
vain  man :  I  do  not  blame,  tho'  I  pity  him.  The  manage 
ment  of  an  army  in  the  field  is  'above  his  head,'  and  the 
Government  and  the  department  is  culpably  and  criminally 
foolish  for  putting  him  in  command  of  a  division." 

Orders  here  came  to  General  Wool  to  turn  his  column 
southward  and  give  up  the  march  to  Chihuahua.  The  army 

[25] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

left  Monclova  on  the  24th  of  November,  after  marching 
thirty  miles  one  day  without  water  over  exceedingly  rough 
roads  in  narrow  passes  of  the  mountains,  they  reached 
Parras  on  December  5th,  where  Wallace  again  writes  to  his 
father : 

"Camp  near  Parras,  Mexico, 
"December  8,  1846. 

"We  reached  this  place  on  the  fifth  inst.  after  a  march  of 
twelve  days  from  Monclova.  We  left  the  latter  place  on  the 
24th  of  November,  leaving  Major  Warren  with  two  com 
panies  of  the  First  Regiment  (Captain  Morgan's  and  Cap 
tain  Prentiss',  formerly  Dickey's)  and  two  from  the  Second 
Regiment  and  three  companies  Arkansas  cavalry. 

"He  had  liberal  instructions  and  will  no  doubt  quit  him 
self  with  honor  should  anything  turn  up  that  requires 
prompt  and  vigorous  action,  for  the  Major  is  not  the  man 
to  back  out  an  inch  from  any  position  he  assumes.  Cool, 
calm,  and  determined  in  everything,  he  is  my  beau  ideal  of 
an  officer.  *  *  *  * 

"The  country  between  here  and  Monclova  is  the  most 
perfect  desert.  On  all  sides  the  rugged  and  barren  heights 
of  the  mountains  frown  upon  us  and  the  valley  we  traveled 
through  is  almost  as  barren,  save  when  a  stream  is  reached 
which  afforded  facilities  for  irrigation. 

"Some  of  the  route  we  marched  thirty  miles  without  wa 
ter.  This,  with  the  thermometer  at  eighty-five  at  noon,  was 
very  hard  upon  the  men,  but  they  stool  it  like  soldiers.  On 
the  whole  route  we  saw  evidences  of  the  imbecility  of  the 
government,  ruined  ranches,  laid  waste  by  the  Comanches, 
and  wooden  crosses  stuck  upon  the  side  of  the  road  to  mark 
the  place  where  murder  had  been  committed  by  Indian  or 
robber,  told  fearfully  what  was  the  state  of  things  in  the 
country.  Occasionally  we  passed  a  fine  rancho  where  all 
the  evidences  of  wealth  and  comfort  were  found,  in  one 
spot,  and  all  around  were  the  most  squalid  poverty  and 
wretchedness. 

"Six  miles  from  this  place  we  passed  the  most  splendid 
hacienda  we  have  yet  seen.  It  is  owned  by  Don  Manuel  de 
Ebarba,  a  Spanish  gentleman  educated  at  the  Catholic 
school  in  Bardstown,  Ky.  He  is  an  American  in  feeling, 

[26] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

and  when  Santa  Ana  sent  to  him  to  collect  a  contribution 
the  other  day,  he  armed  his  peasants  or  slaves  and  resisted 
the  collectors.  We  encamped  one  night  within  a  mile  of  his 
house,  and  in  the  evening  I  went  with  the  band  of  our  regi 
ment  and  gave  him  a  serenade.  He  invited  us  in  and  treat 
ed  us  in  the  most  hospitable  manner.  He  speaks  English 
very  well,  and  I  had  quite  a  conversation  with  him.  He 
says  the  Comanches  trouble  him  very  much,  that  the  gov 
ernment  cannot  protect  the  citizens,  nor  would  allow  them 
to  protect  themselves,  that  they  had  taken  his  arms  from 
him  several  times,  but  he  had  supplied  himself  again.  He 
expressed  himself  greatly  pleased  at  the  occupation  of  the 
country  by  an  American  force,  and  hoped  this  part  of 
Mexico  would  be  annexed  to  the  United  States,  at  the  close 
of  the  war. 

"His  place  is  the  most  magnificent  affair  I  ever  saw.  He 
has  an  extensive  vineyard  and  manufactures  large  quantities 
of  wine  and  brandy. 

"He  was  very  profuse  of  his  liquors  which  were  very 
fine,  as  several  of  our  officers  can  testify.  Even  the  Com 
manding  General  was  not  proof  against  their  seductive  in 
fluence  and  returned  to  camp  from  his  visit  to  Don  Manuel 
in  a  decidedly  glorious  state.  It  is  astonishing  what  an 
amount  of  labor  has  been  expended  in  the  improvement  of 
this  hacienda.  The  whole  grounds,  including  about  a  sec 
tion  and  a  half,  are  enclosed  by  a  wall  of  unburnt  brick 
some  twelve  to  fifteen  feet  high  as  a  protection  against  the 
Indians. 

"The  house  is  built  in  the  old  Spanish  style,  with  a  front 
of  about  two  hundred  feet  and  a  paved  court  yard  inside 
surrounded  by  tasteful  buildings  and  filled  with  flowers  and 
trees  and  everything  in  the  most  substantial  style. 

"The  town  of  Parras  is  a  better  place  than  any  town  we 
have  heretofore  seen.  The  houses  are  of  a  more  tasteful 
and  substantial  style,  and  the  inhabitants  more  like  white 
folks.  Many  of  the  'upper  ten  thousand'  have  been  in  to  see 
us  in  camp.  The  ladies  ride  in  heavy  carriages  drawn  by  a 
pair  of  mules  that  look  like  mice  hitched  to  those  ponderous 
vehicles.  These  carriages  are  rich  in  finish  and  the  mules 
are  loaded  down  with  plated  trappings,  and  then  a  great 

[27] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Mexican  postillion  in  jack-boots  seated  astride  of  the  near 
mule  and  two  footmen  mounted  behind  complete  the  strange 
show  which  every  day  rolls  through  our  camp. 

"We  take  a  few  Mexican  prisoners,  but  can  learn  but  lit 
tle  of  the  movements  of  the  Mexican  army.  One  thing  is 
certain,  Santa  Ana  is  lying  at  San  Luis  Potosi  with  a  force 
of  thirty  or  forty  thousand  men.  General  Worth  is  in  Sal- 
tillo  with  three  or  four  thousand  Americans,  and  General 
Taylor  is  moving  on  toward  San  Luis.  We  will  act  in  con 
junction  with  General  Taylor,  but  will  not  actually  join  him 
before  we  reach  San  Luis.  We  will  probably  take  the  route 
by  Durango  and  Zacaticas  to  San  Luis.  From  present  ap 
pearances  we  will  not  leave  here  for  a  month  or  six  weeks. 
All  the  forces  left  on  the  road  between  here  and  San  An 
tonio  and  at  San  Antonio  will  join  us  before  we  move  again. 
I  doubt  whether  we  have  any  more  fighting.  The  Mexican 
Congress  met  on  the  6th  inst.  and  no  doubt  they  will  give 
the  question  of  peace  a  speedy  consideration.  Santa  Ana 
finds  great  difficulty  in  subsisting  his  army,  as  we  are  now  in 
the  heart  of  the  bread  country  of  Mexico. 

"General  Wool  is  as  popular  as  ever.  He  makes  a  great 
display  of  his  feathers,  greatly  to  the  amusement  of  these 
hidalgos." 

The  command  remained  in  Parras  from  December  fifth 
until  the  seventeenth,  when  they  left  for  Saltillo,  reaching 
Aqua  Nueva,  eighteen  miles  from  Saltillo,  on  the  twenty- 
first,  having  marched  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  in  four 
days.  From  this  point  Wallace  writes  to  his  father: 

"Camp  at  Aqua  Nueva, 
"December  23,  1846. 

"I  last  wrote  you  from  Parras,  where  we  arrived  on  the 
fifth,  and  where  we  expected  to  remain  all  winter.  On  the 
17th  we  were  lying  in  camp  at  that  place — all  was  quiet — the 
Colonel  had  gone  off  with  General  Wool  to  look  for  winter 
quarters  for  some  of  the  troops.  We  had  a  day  or  two 
previous  received  command  from  General  Taylor  to  occupy 
that  position — that  he  had  received  advices  from  the  depart 
ment  to  hold  on  to  what  he  had  acquired  in  Northern  Mex- 

[28] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

ico,  but  to  push  no  further.  All  were  expecting  to  spend  an 
inactive  month  or  two  there.  I  had  that  morning  acted  as 
Adjutant  of  the  Day  and  had  returned  from  guard-mount 
ing  and  was  sitting  in  my  tent  writing  letters  when  an  ex 
press  on  a  foaming  horse  rode  up  to  the  General's  quarters 
and  alighted.  Soon  after  the  Colonel  rode  up  in  haste,  dis 
mounted  and  went  straight  to  the  General's  marque — but 
he  had  scarcely  got  there  before  he  turned  round  and  came 
back  on  a  run  and  before  he  was  half  way  back  halloed  to 
me,  'Adjutant,  call  up  the  Sergeants!  Give  notice  to  pre 
pare  for  march  immediately !'  In  two  minutes  the  roar  and 
bustle  of  preparation  was  heard  in  every  part  of  the  camp. 
Tents  were  struck,  wagons  loaded,  sick  men  sent  off  to  the 
hospital  in  town,  and  in  an  hour  we  were  ready  to  move. 

"Then  there  was  'mounting  in  hot  haste'  and  we  were  off 
on  the  road  to  Saltillo.  As  I  rode  beside  the  Colonel  at  the 
head  of  our  column  I  had  time  to  inquire  the  cause  of  this 
movement.  Dispatches  had  been  received  from  General 
Worth  at  Saltillo,  stating  that  a  large  Mexican  force  had 
left  San  Luis  Potosi  and  were  within  three  days'  march  of 
Saltillo,  and  it  was  supposed  that  Santa  Ana,  with  the  main 
force  was  marching  upon  that  place. 

"We  made  a  forced  march,  starting  each  morning  at 
three  o'clock  and  moving  eleven  to  fourteen  hours  each 
day.  We  accomplished  the  whole  distance  (about  one  hun 
dred  and  twenty  miles)  in  four  days  with  a  train  of  artillery 
and  baggage  wagons  amounting  to  some  five  hundred,  over 
one  of  the  roughest  roads  imaginable. 

"You  can  form  no  idea  of  the  disappointment  and  cha- 

frin  we  felt,  when  arriving  here  within  eighteen  miles  of 
altillo  we  learned  it  was  a  false  alarm,  that  a  body  of  Mex 
icans  had  been  within  three  days'  march  of  this  place,  but 
nothing  further  could  be  learned  from  them.  We  are  now 
lying  in  camp  opposite  a  pass  in  the  mountains  through 
which  the  San  Luis  road  passes,  and  commands  the  only 
water  there  is  for  fifty  miles  in  that  direction.  The  position 
is  said  to  be  a  very  strong  one,  but  I  confess  I  can  not  see 
its  strength.  The  pass  in  the  narrowest  part  is  five  hundred 
yards  wide,  with  sloping  hills  on  either  side,  and  the  plain 
in  which  we  are,  and  which  can  be  reached  without  coming 

[29] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

within  range  of  our  guns,  is  a  most  splendid  place  for  cav 
alry  to  act;  and  the  Mexican  force  consists  principally  of 
that  arm. 

"General  Wool  will  not  go  to  Saltillo  because  Major 
General  Butler  is  there,  and  he  is  fearful  of  losing  his  com 
mand.  If  General  Butler  leaves  within  a  day  or  two,  Wool 
will  go  in,  for  he  ranks  General  Worth,  who  is  stationed 
there. 

"We  had  quite  an  excitement  on  the  march  about  this 
matter  of  rank.  General  Wool  preceded  us  some  six  to 
ten  miles  with  the  Dragoon  and  Artillery  and  we  were  left 
to  bring  up  the  train  and  so  encamped  separately  from  the 
General.  Colonel  Churchill  was  with  us  and  wanted  to  as 
sume  the  command.  There  is  a  question  that  has  produced 
difficulty  in  the  regular  army  as  to  the  right  of  staff  officers 
to  command  unless  assigned  by  the  President.  On  this  oc 
casion  Colonel  Hardin,  as  the  senior  officer  in  the  line  of  the 
army,  took  command,  and  he  and  Churchill  had  quite  a 
quarrel — officially  of  course — which  ended  by  Churchill 
ordering  Hardin  under  arrest,  and  Hardin  laughing  at  him. 
The  question  is  still  unsettled,  and  whenever  Wool  is  out  of 
camp  Hardin  assumes  command  and  all  the  officers  of  the 
line,  both  regulars  and  volunteers,  recognize  him  as  com 
mander.  This  annoys  Churchill  horribly  to  be  ranked  and 
commanded  by  a  volunteer  colonel." 

"December  24th. 

"We  have  news  to-day  from  Parras  that  two  or  three 
thousand  Mexican  troops  are  close  to  that  place.  Captain 
Hoffman,  of  the  Sixth  Infantry,  has  been  ordered  up,  and 
has  left  the  place.  He  is  now  at  Potos,  thirty-five  miles 
from  here. 

"Before  he  left  the  Comanches  had  made  an  attack  on 
the  hacienda  of  Don  Manuel  Ebarba  that  I  spoke  of.  Cap 
tain  Hoffman  sent  out  a  detachment  of  Arkansas  men  to 
protect  the  place.  One  of  them  was  returning  to  town  and 
a  Mexican  attempted  to  'lasso'  him  as  they  do  wild  horses. 
He  failed  in  the  first  attempt,  and  before  he  could  repeat  it 
the  Arkansite  drew  up  his  carbine  and  killed  him. 

"We  know  not  what  will  be  our  next  place  of  destination. 
There  are  rumors  of  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  Mexicans 

[30] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

moving  upon  us  in  three  columns — one  to  Parras — one  here 
— and  another  to  Victoria.  On  the  other  hand  it  is  rumored 
that  the  Mexican  Congress  has  passed  a  resolution  propos 
ing  to  receive  a  commission  to  adjust  the  difficulties  be 
tween  the  two  countries." 


[31] 


CHAPTER  V. 
ON  THE  MARCH  TO  BUENA  VISTA. 

CHRISTMAS  day  the  regiment  camped  at  La  Encan- 
tado  and  William  Osman,  a  member  of  the  Ottawa 
company,  writes :  "After  tents  were  up  and  in  order, 
the  impulse  was  to  take  a  rest.  Our  mess  had  a  few  gallons 
of  wine  left,  and  having  come  in  possession  of  a  couple  of 
jack  rabbits,  and  our  cook  having  in  addition  to  roasting 
them  concocted  a  delicious  corn  pone  and  a  plum  pudding 
Out  of  Mexican  figs  and  raisins,  we  celebrated  Christmas 
with  a  state  dinner,  which  Colonel  Hardin,  Adjutant  Wal 
lace  and  Secretary  Goodell  honored  with  their  presence." 
Mr.  Wallace  writes  from  this  new  camp  to  his  father : 

"Camp  La  Encantado,  Mexico, 
"January  9,  1847. 

"Our  column  is  fast  breaking  up;  everybody  seems 
pleased  with  it.  *  *  *  *  Major  Bourneville's  battal 
ion,  Sixth  Infantry  and  the  Squadron  Second  Dragoons, 
were  ordered  to  join  General  Worth's  division  and  are  now 
on  their  march  to  Camargo.  *  *  *  *  The  knowing 
ones  say  that  all  the  regular  force  that  can  be  spared  is  to 
be  concentrated  at  some  point  on  the  coast  for  a  descent  on 
Vera  Cruz.  General  Scott  is  in  the  field,  and  the  17th  inst. 
is  fixed  upon  for  a  conference  between  him  and  General 
Taylor  at  Camargo.  There  is  little  doubt  but  Scott  will 
be  governed  in  a  great  measure  by  Taylor.  *  *  *  * 
All  the  regular  troops  have  left  Saltillo  except  one  company 
of  the  First  Artillery  with  two  howitzers.  All  we  have  re 
maining  is  Washington's  battery,  Fourth  Artillery,  and  a 
squadron  First  Dragoons.  Vera  Cruz  is  the  only  assailable 
point  in  this  country.  Tampico  is  of  no  value,  as  there  is 
no  practicable  route  for  artillery  into  the  interior,  the  only 
means  of  conveyance  being  by  mules. 

"The  route  from  here  to  San  Luis  Potosi  is  almost  des 
titute  of  water  and  is  entirely  impracticable  at  this  season 

[32] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

of  the  year.  After  passing  the  range  of  the  Bolson  Malpini 
that  now  rise  before  us  on  the  south,  there  is  no  water  for 
ninety  miles.  The  only  season  of  the  year  when  it  can  be 
traversed  by  an  American  army  is  in  the  summer  during  or 
shortly  after  the  rainy  season.  Mexicans  can  probably  cross 
it  at  any  time,  as  they  eat  nothing  and  their  horses  require 
but  little  water.  And  if  their  animals  should  all  fail,  the 
next  drove  of  mustangs  would  supply  their  places.  *  *  * 
We  have  no  definite  rumors  of  peace.  The  Mexican  people 
and  government  seem  determined  to  have  another  brush  at 
us.  I  wish  we  could  get  a  chance  to  give  them  a  sound 
thrashing  and  go  home." 

On  January  eleventh  Wallace,  with  his  friends,  Dr.  Her- 
rick  and  R.  E.  Goodell,  went  to  Patos,  and  on  their  return 
on  the  12th  found  the  camp  had  moved  to  Buena  Vista,  five 
miles  south  of  Saltillo,  and  from  here  Wallace  writes  to 
his  father: 

"Camp  San  Juan  de  Buena  Vista, 
"January  19,  1847. 

"Our  little  camp  has  been  in  commotion  for  several  days 
past  in  consequence  of  a  rumor  that  gained  credence  in 
camp  that  a  large  Mexican  force,  variously  reported  from 
seven  to  nineteen  thousand,  was  on  the  march  from  San 
Luis  Potosi  to  attack  us.  Our  small  command  (now  re 
duced  to  two  Illinois  regiments,  Washington's  Artillery, 
Colonel  Yell's  Arkansas  Cavalry  and  a  squadron  of  First 
Dragoons)  moved  back  from  the  camp  at  La  Encantado, 
Colonel  Yell's  regiment  was  called  in  from  Potos  and  sta 
tioned  at  La  Encantado,  two  Indiana  regiments,  a  part  of 
General  Butler's  division,  were  quartered  in  the  town,  and 
scouting  parties  were  sent  out  in  every  direction.  *  *  * 
We  have  been  in  constant  readiness  night  and  day  for  an 
attack — the  cartridge  boxes  were  filled  and  each  night  every 
thing  was  packed  in  the  wagons  except  the  tents  and  blank 
ets  ready  to  obey  the  signal  agreed  on  between  Generals 
Wool  and  Butler,  which  was  the  firing  of  two  cannon  in 
town  in  case  the  attack  was  there,  and  the  same  here  if 
they  came  this  way.  *  *  *  *  Major  Warren  left 
Monclova  yesterday  with  three  of  the  companies  of  our  reg- 

[33] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

iment  and  one  of  the  Second,  and  will  probably  reach  here 
in  six  or  seven  days.  We  shall  then  have  all  told  about  five 
thousand  effective  men — all  volunteers  except  the  squadron 
First  Dragoons  and  the  two  companies  artillery,  and  we  feel 
fully  competent  to  whip  any  number  of  Mexicans  from  sev 
en  to  fifteen  thousand. 

"If  we  do  get  into  a  fight  you  may  expect  to  hear  a  good 
account  of  the  volunteers,  for  every  man  feels  the  necessity 
of  sustaining  the  insulted  and  jeered  at  character  of  our  cit 
izen  soldiers — and  this  is  the  first  opportunity  we  have  had 
of  testing  the  question  fairly — if  indeed  we  shall  have  a 
chance  now.  *  *  *  *  But  I  feel  more  like  it  was  gen 
uine  than  I  ever  have  before  and  such  is  the  general  feeling. 

"The  17th  inst.  was  the  day  fixed  upon  for  a  conference 
between  Generals  Taylor  and  Scott  at  Camargo.  We  have 
not  yet  heard  the  result  of  that  conference,  but  rumor — that 
most  constant  distribution  of  camp  news — says  that  General 
Taylor  is  coming  on  here  to  move  forward  this  column  to 
San  Luis.  All  the  regulars  being  called  off  by  Scott  when 
he  ordered  Worth  to  the  coast  looks  like  serious  operations 
in  that  direction.  If  a  vigorous  attack  upon  Vera  Cruz  is 
contemplated  no  doubt  this  column  will  be  ordered  further 
into  the  interior  with  a  view  to  force  Santa  Ana  back  into 
the  City  of  Mexico.  Vera  Cruz  being  taken,  the  road  lies 
open  to  the  'Halls  of  the  Montezumas'  and  the  city  is  not 
fortified  to  any  great  extent,  so  that  Santa  Ana  would  be 
bound  to  evacuate  his  garrisons  at  San  Luis  or  lose  his  cap 
ital.  Whether  we  shall  be  ordered  on  this  duty  is  doubtful. 
Our  term  of  service  is  so  near  out  that  in  all  probability 
we  will  be  left  to  garrison  the  posts  along  the  line.  This  I 
fear  more  than  anything  else — for  of  all  lives  that  of  a  sol 
dier  in  garrison  in  a  Mexican  town  is  to  my  conception  the 
most  tedious.  Far  rather  would  I  be  on  the  march,  even 
if  we  went  with  the  giant  strides  that  we  made  on  the  march 
from  Parras. 

"I  have  enough  to  keep  me  busy  at  all  times,  but  the  men 
having  little  to  do  incur  habits  of  idleness  and  dissipation, 
and  it  is  more  trouble  to  perform  an  order  than  when  they 
are  worn  down  by  the  fatigues  of  a  long  march — and  then 
these  numerous  cases  for  court  martial,  in  which  it  is  my 

[34] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

duty  to  act  as  Judge  Advocate,  and  this  accumulates  busi 
ness  upon  my  hands. 

"Aside  from  these  reasons,  the  prospect  of  seeing  new 
places  and  getting  a  sight  of  as  much  of  the  country  as  pos 
sible,  which  is  one  of  the  principal  reasons  for  coming,  are 
additional  reasons  for  wishing  to  be  on  the  move." 

Soon  after  Wallace  writes  another  letter  to  his  father 
from  the  same  place. 

"January  28th,  1847. 

"Since  I  wrote  you  last  our  camp  has  been  thrown  into 
considerable  excitement  by  the  capture  of  Major  Borland, 
of  the  Arkansas  Cavalry,  and  Major  Gaines  and  Captain 
Cassius  M.  Clay,  of  the  Kentucky  Cavalry.  They  were 
sent  out  with  about  eighty  men  as  a  scouting  party,  and 
while  out  about  fifty  miles  at  a  hacienda,  were  surprised  and 
captured  by  an  armed  party  of  Mexicans.  *  *  *  * 
Colonel  Yell,  with  about  two  hundred  men,  went  out  to  the 
place  two  days  ago,  but  could  hear  nothing  of  the  party  and 
sent  back  for  leave  to  remain  and  garrison  the  hacienda, 
which  he  said  he  could  defend  against  one  thousand  Mex 
icans. 

"General  Wool  sent  word  for  him  to  return  at  once,  but 
the  express  met  him  on  the  retreat.  Yell's  advance  had  seen 
a  larger  force  than  he  thought  prudent  to  meet.  *  *  *  * 
Major  Borland  was  a  gallant  and  energetic  officer,  and  his 
being  caught  asleep  is  a  matter  of  great  wonder  to  those 
who  know  him  best.  Major  Gaines  is  also  said  to  be  a  good 
officer,  and  Cassius  M.  Clay  is  well  known  for  his  energy 
and  intrepidity.  To  be  so  taken  without  an  opportunity  of 
making  a  gallant  defence  is  most  unfortunate.  I  think  the 
whole  thing  occured  in  consequence  of  their  negligence  with 
regard  to  guards.  I  know  that  great  laxity  in  this  respect 
existed  in  the  Arkansas  regiment;  for  when  I  visited  Col 
onel  Yell  at  Patos,  some  forty  miles  from  any  of  our  force, 
and  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  a  Mexican  town,  owned  by 
a  hostile  centralist,  Sanchez,  he  had  no  guard  whatever,  and 
I  rode  into  his  camp  after  dark,  without  being  challenged 
by  a  single  sentinel.  General  Wool's  strictness  in  the  matter 
had  the  effect  of  making  Yell  and  others  careless  and  indif- 

[35] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

ferent  when  away  from  the  immediate  command  of  the  Gen 
eral.     *     *     *     * 

"General  Taylor  is  coming  on  here  and  will  be  here  in 
a  few  days  with  a  great  part  of  his  force."  *  *  *  * 
The  letter  continues: 

"January  30th,  1847. 

"Captain  Henry,  who  went  out  with  Major  Borland, 
has  come  in.  He  is  a  Texan  and  went  out  with  the  party 
as  interpreter.  His  account  of  the  affair  is  this :  The  party 
under  Major  Borland,  consisting  of  forty-three  officers  and 
men  picked  from  the  Arkansas  regiment,  went  out  on  the 
San  Luis  road  on  the  19th  to  ascertain  the  truth  of  the  ru 
mors  that  had  kept  our  camp  on  the  lookout  for  the  last  few 
days.  They  reached  the  Hacienda  Incarnatione  on  the 
twentieth  and  on  the  twenty-first  marched  thirty-six  miles 
beyond  and  saw  no  evidence  of  an  enemy — on  the  twenty- 
second  they  returned  to  Incarnatione  and  encamped. 

"They  had  posted  a  guard,  the  night  was  dark  and  windy 
and  it  rained  very  hard — a  very  unusual  occurrence  in  this 
part  of  Mexico  at  this  season  of  the  year.  About  twelve 
o'clock  one  of  the  sentries  gave  notice  that  he  thought  he 
heard  the  jingling  of  armor.  The  party  was  paraded  and 
scouts  sent  out,  but  nothing  was  discovered.  A  great  part 
of  the  force  remained  up  during  the  night.  *  *  *  * 
When  day  dawned  they  discovered  a  large  Mexican  force 
encamped  at  about  a  half-mile  distant  in  every  direction. 
They  were  completely  surrounded. 

"General  Minion,  who  is  in  command  of  a  body  of  Mex 
ican  cavalry,  having  news  of  the  movement  of  the  party 
from  spies,  which  he  found  in  every  ranchero — had  made  a 
forced  march  and  came  up  with  them  in  the  night  and  quiet 
ly  surrounded  them,  leaving  till  daylight  the  work  of  con 
vincing  them  there  was  no  possibility  of  escape.  A  flag  of 
truce  was  sent  in  and  they  were  required  to  surrender. 
*  *  *  *  Majors  Gaines  and  Borland,  after  stipulat 
ing  that  their  Mexican  guide,  who  had  been  compelled  to 
accompany  the  party,  and  Captain  Henry,  who  had  been  a 
Mier  prisoner  and  escaped — should  be  treated  with  human 
ity,  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war.  In  five  minutes  the 
Mexican  guide  was  shot  before  their  eyes. 

[36] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"On  the  second  day's  march  Captain  Henry  became  con 
vinced  that  they  intended  to  shoot  him.  The  field  officers 
by  some  whim  of  the  Mexican  commander,  had  been  al 
lowed  to  retain  their  horses  and  pistols.  Major  Gaines 
mounted  the  Captain  on  his  mare,  a  noble  blooded  animal, 
and  taking  advantage  of  a  slight  gap  in  the  line  of  guards, 
darted  through  and  was  out  of  sight  before  a  gun  could  be 
fairly  leveled  at  him.  He  was  pursued  for  near  a  hundred 
miles  and  succeeded  in  killing  two  of  his  pursuers  and  elud 
ing  the  remainder. 

"At  length  his  noble  mare  gave  out  from  fatigue  and 
want  of  water  and  died  in  the  mountain,  he  himself,  after 
being  out  for  five  days  without  food,  save  a  rat  which  he 
killed  with  a  club,  was  at  length  picked  up  by  the  pickets  at 
Aqua  Nueva. 

"Fears  are  entertained  for  Major  Gaines  lest  the  Mex 
icans  suspect  some  connivance  on  his  part  and  should  visit 
on  him  the  punishment  for  Henry. 

"This  afternoon  the  Second  Illinois  Regiment  and  Artil 
lery  moved  into  Saltillo,  leaving  only  eight  companies  of  the 
First  in  this  camp.  Three  men  of  Captain  Smith's  company 
(Chicago)  taking  advantage  of  the  interruption  of  the  guard 
caused  by  the  move,  passed  out  and  went  down  to  a  rancho 
two  miles  from  camp  and  got  into  difficulties  with  some 
Mexicans  about  liquor  and  a  fight  ensued.  I  had  been  on 
duty  in  a  court  martial  and  did  not  go  out  to  afternoon  drill 
and  was  sitting  in  the  tent  when  one  of  the  men  came  up  in 
breathless  haste  and  said  three  of  our  men  were  killed.  The 
Colonel  was  out  drilling  and  had  gone  with  the  regiment  up 
the  valley  two  miles.  I  collected  a  few  men  and  went  out 
to  the  rancho  and  after  a  short  search  found  one  of  the 
men  lying  in  a  deep  gully  with  a  number  of  large  rocks  piled 
on  him.  I  leaped  into  the  ditch,  rolled  off  the  stones  and 
discovered  that  he  still  showed  signs  of  life.  We  lifted  him 
out  and  arrested  all  the  Mexicans  we  saw  and  brought  them 
into  camp.  By  the  time  we  reached  camp  we  had  about 
thirty. 

"We  assorted  our  motley  crew  of  prisoners,  having  de 
tained  four  of  them  who  were  recognized  by  our  wounded 
men.  White,  the  man  whom  I  found  in  the  ditch,  is  better, 

[37] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

and  it  is  thought  he  will  survive.  Fenton  and  Hodge,  the 
other  two,  are  injured,  but  not  seriously. 

"It  was  a  curious  scene,  that,  sifting  and  selecting  by 
moonlight,  each  man  as  he  was  called  on  doffing  his  broad 
sombrero  and  turning  his  copper  visage  to  the  moon,  drop 
ping  his  dingy  blanket  from  his  chin,  to  bear  the  scrutiny  of 
the  injured  man. 

"Among  the  crowd  of  prisoners,  miscellaneously  gath 
ered,  was  an  Alcalde,  a  haciendado  (proprietor  of  a  hacien 
da)  a  woman  and  three  young  bloods  from  Saltillo,  who  had 
come  out  with  white  jackets  and  silver  hat  bands  to  a  fan 
dango,  which  was  about  commencing — an  old  peon  and  his 
four  sons,  besides  a  crowd  of  ragged  and  filthy  looking 
wretches  who  showed  by  their  faces  they  were  awfully 
frightened. 

"We  had  another  stampede  last  night,  but  we  are  getting 
used  to  these  alarms  and  don't  mind  them  much  now. 

"General  Wool  has  moved  his  quarters  into  town  and 
Colonel  Hardin  is  in  command  of  this  camp." 

On  February  fifth  "General  Taylor  arrived  from  Mon 
terey  with  Jeff  Davis*  Mississippi  regiment,  a  couple  of  In 
diana  infantry  regiments,  May's  squadron,  an  Arkansas  reg 
iment  of  volunteers,  Bragg's  and  Sherman's  batteries. 
General  Worth,  also  with  nine  hundred  regulars,  and  two 
splendid  batteries,  was  at  Saltillo,  but  these  just  as  Santa 
Ana  was  known  to  be  swooping  down  on  Taylor  with  an 
overwhelming  force  were  strangely  and  most  unaccountably 
ordered  away  to  join  the  army  General  Scott  was  organiz 
ing  for  his  famous  march  on  the  City  of  Mexico.  Taylor, 
who  was  now  left  with  but  a  trifle  over  four  thousand  men, 
and  these  mainly  'unbaptised'  volunteers,  was  consolingly 
advised  to  seek  safety  by  falling  back  on  Monterey." 
(W.  Osman). 

On  the  tenth  the  command  in  which  was  Adjutant  Wal 
lace,  moved  to  Aqua  Nueva,  twenty  miles  south  of  Saltillo, 
from  which  point  he  writes  his  father: 

"Aqua  Nueva,  February  14,  1847. 
"On  the  10th  our  regiment  left  the  camp  at  San  Juan  de 
Buena  Vista  and  encamped  here,  where  nearly  all  the  troops 

[38] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

of  the  division  are  now  concentrated  under  Gen.  Taylor. 
General  Wool  has  immediate  command  of  all  except  the 
Mississippi  Riflemen,  two  companies  artillery  and  Colonel 
May's  squadron  of  Dragoons,  which  remain  under  the  im 
mediate  command  of  General  Taylor. 

"Our  division  consists  of  the  two  Illinois  regiments,  two 
Indiana  and  one  Kentucky  infantry.  The  Arkansas  and 
Kentucky  cavalry  and  a  squadron  Second  Dragoons  and 
Washington's  artillery.  The  force  all  told,  amounts  to  some 
six  thousand.  Wool's  division  is  encamped  about  a  mile 
from  Taylor's." 

"February  20th. 

"Another  stampede  on  hand.  The  camp  is  filled  with 
news  of  Mexicans  in  the  neighborhood.  Major  Warren, 
who  is  in  command  at  Saltillo,  has  received  certain  infor 
mation  two  or  three  times  that  a  large  force  was  in  the 
immediate  vicinity.  Night  before  last  he  wrote  to  General 
Wool  that  the  attack  was  about  to  commence  simultaneous 
ly  on  Saltillo  and  this  camp.  General  Wool  sent  word  to 
General  Taylor,  who  is  encamped  about  a  mile  from  us. 
The  old  fellow  got  up  cross,  rubbing  his  eyes  and  swearing, 
'Let  'em  come!  Let  Santa  Ana  come  and  I'll  whip  him 
like  a  sack!' 

"The  only  thing  that  seems  to  indicate  a  movement  of 
the  Mexicans  in  this  direction  is  the  circulation  of  these 
various  and  contradictory  reports.  If  Santa  Ana  should 
come  on  our  rear  with  a  large  force  and  cut  off  our  com 
munication  with  the  Rio  Grande,  they  might  give  us  some 
trouble." 

On  the  21st  they  struck  tents  and  moved  to  Buena  Vista, 
from  where  they  heard  firing  in  the  night.  At  eleven 
o'clock  they  got  up  and  began  entrenchments  on  the  right 
of  the  pass.  The  express  came  in  and  stated  that  the  pick 
ets  had  been  fired  on  in  pass  Aqua  Nueva.  The  battle  came 
on  the  following  day. 


[39] 


CHAPTER  VI. 
BATTLE  OF  BUENA  VISTA. 

THE  battle  occurred  on  February  twenty-second.     In 
a  letter  written  a  week  afterwards  to  George  Green, 
of  Ottawa,  Mr.  Wallace  gives  a  minute  account  of 
the  battle : 

"Camp  Taylor,  20  miles  south  of  Saltillo,  Mexico. 

"March  1,  1847. 
"DEAR  GEORGE: 

"I've  seen  the  elephant  in  every  attitude,  walking, 
running,  at  bay  and  fighting!  You  will  doubtless,  before 
receiving  this,  have  seen  full  particulars  of  the  battle  of 
Buena  Vista. 

"It  is  a  terrible  thing,  this  fighting.  And  until  forty- 
eight  hours  before  the  enemy  came  in  sight,  I  did  not  be 
lieve  we  should  ever  see  them.  On  Saturday  evening  the 
twentieth,  we  were  lying  in  camp  just  where  we  now  are. 
Rumors  of  various  kinds  were  afloat  with  regard  to  the 
Mexican  army,  but  we  had  had  plenty  of  that  sort  of  thing, 
I  did  not  credit  them  until  that  time.  A  picket  sent  out 
thirty  miles  towards  San  Luis,  reported  that  he  had  seen 
them  in  immense  numbers.  This  was  the  first  time  they 
had  been  seen  by  white  men,  and  for  the  first  time  I  be 
lieved  they  were  coming.  It  was  not  fear,  and  yet  it  was 
more  like  fear  than  .anything  I  ever  felt,  during  the  heat 
of  the  action  when  bullets  flew  thick  as  rain  around  me. 

"On  the  twentyrfirst  we  fell  back  to  Buena  Vista,  which 
is  five  miles  this  side  of  Saltillo. 

"The  First  Regiment  encamped  at  a  narrow  pass  on  the 
road,  where  a  deeply  washed  gully  approached  within  a  few 
feet  of  a  considerable  hill.  That  night  we  threw  up  a  re 
doubt  commanding  the  pass,  which  was  the  only  practical 
road  for  artillery.  On  the  morning  of  the  twenty-second  we 
commenced  erecting  a  breastwork  of  stone  and  earth  on  the 
hill  in  front  of  our  camp.  About  ten  o'clock  the  head  of 

[40] 


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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

the  Mexican  column  appeared  in  sight.  They  moved  up  in 
immense  numbers  and  formed  on  a  hill  two  miles  in  front 
of  us — (I  send  you  a  rough  sketch  of  the  country  in  the 
vicinity  of  Saltillo,  also  one  on  a  larger  scale  of  the  scene  of 
the  engagement,  to  which  last  I  refer  you  by  numbers  for 
a  description  of  the  fight.) 

"The  head  of  the  Mexican  column  rested  near  the  main 
Mexican  battery.  (No.  1).  They  continued  to  move  up 
and  form  on  that  height  till  sunset.  About  twelve  M.  three 
horsemen  bearing  a  white  flag  rode  up  the  road  toward  our 
lines.  They  were  met  by  a  like  party  from  us  with  an  in 
terpreter.  They  met  and  in  a  moment  one  of  our  horsemen 
dashed  off  like  a  dart  toward  our  lines,  rode  up  to  General 
Taylor,  who,  with  his  staff,  was  then  standing  by  our  bat 
tery  at  the  pass. 

"The  messenger  brought  a  very  polite  note  from  the 
great  Santa  Ana  himself,  informing  General  Taylor  that 
he  had  twenty-one  thousand  men  and  forty  pieces  of  artil 
lery,  and  as  a  means  of  sparing  the  effusion  of  human  blood, 
he  requested  old  'Rough  and  Ready'  to  surrender! 

"To  this  modest  request  Old  Zack  replied,  'Come  and 
take  us!'  The  First  Regiment  was  then  in  position  at  the 
'breastworks'  on  the  hill,  that  is  six  companies — two  in  the 
'redoubt'  supporting  Washington's  battery,  six  pieces  of 
which  were  then  drawn  up  in  the  valley  at  No.  1,  and  two 
companies,  A  and  I,  were  in  Saltillo  forming  a  part  of  the 
garrison  of  that  place  under  Major  Warren. 

"The  top  of  the  hill  where  the  'breastwork'  was  erected, 
is  some  three  hundred  feet  above  the  valley,  where  the  camp 
lay  and  a  very  steep  ascent.  From  the  'breastworks'  to  the 
foot  of  the  mountain  on  the  east  is  a  rise  of  about  one  foot 
in  twelve  and  generally  smooth,  except  where  broken  by 
ravines,  as  represented. 

"The  point  at  the  Mexican  Battery,  No.  3,  commands  the 
whole  plateau  above  the  ravine.  The  ravines  were  deep 
near  their  mouths  and  grew  less  so  as  you  advanced  to 
ward  their  heads.  The  ground  broken  by  deep  washes  is 
one  of  the  roughest,  wildest  scenes  imaginable;  and  the 
Deep  Gully  running  off  to  the  west,  opposite  the  Mexican 
Battery  No.  1,  is  thirty  feet  deep  and  impassable,  so  there 

[41] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

was  no  danger  of  an  approach  from  that  side,  unless  the 
enemy  should  send  a  party  to  cut  a  road.  To  prevent  this 
the  Kentucky  Infantry  and  Sherman's  Battery  were  sent 
across  and  took  position  at  No.  2.  *  *  *  *  The  'First' 
was  disposed  as  above  described.  Colonel  Hardin  com 
manding  on  the  hill,  and  'Old  Buck'  in  the  redoubt. 

"The  Second  Illinois  was  drawn  up  at  No.  3,  the  two  In 
diana  regiments  on  the  hill  at  No.  4,  the  mounted  regi 
ments  near  them — the  Mississippi  Riflemen  further  toward 
the  mountains  on  the  left  of  the  Indiana  troops,  Bragg's 
battery  in  the  rear,  ready  to  take  any  position  which  might 
be  required.  This  was  the  state  of  things  when  Santa 
Ana's  note  came  in. 

"For  two  hours  nothing  was  done.  Each  lay  off  and 
watched  the  other.  Our  engineers  were  scattered  about  on 
the  different  hills  taking  note  of  the  enemy.  About  two 
o'clock  they  commenced  sending  a  column  of  light  troops 
toward  the  mountain  and  they  were  seen  scattered  along  the 
face  of  the  hill.  The  Mississippi  and  Indiana  Riflemen 
were  sent  to  meet  them  on  the  mountain.  At  four  o'clock 
the  skirmishing  commenced  on  the  side  of  the  mountain  at 
No.  5.  Santa  Ana,  who,  if  he  is  a  coward,  has  at  least 
some  of  the  attributes  of  a  great  general,  had  seen  the  ad 
vantage  of  the  position  at  the  Battery  No.  3 — an  advantage 
that  had  been  overlooked  by  our  engineers,  though  the 
ground  had  been  frequently  reconnoitered.  A  very  large 
body  of  light  troops  under  the  command  of  Ampudia  was 
sent  into  the  mountains  for  the  purpose  of  turning  our  left 
flank  and  gaining  this  position.  The  firing  was  sharp  on 
both  sides,  but  the  Mexicans  rather  got  the  better  of  it. 
They  outnumbered  us  two  to  one — and  clambered  up  ^the 
mountain  until  they  were  almost  directly  over  our  skirmish 
ers.  In  the  meantime  the  Mexicans  had  planted  their  Bat 
tery  at  No.  1,  and  three  pieces  of  Washington's,  under  the 
command  of  Lieutenant  O'Brien,  were  dragged  up  by  our 
men  at  the  head  of  the  hollow  by  the  'spring'  and  took  po 
sition  on  the  plateau.  A  few  shots  were  fired  from  a  Mex 
ican  twenty-four  pounder  at  Battery  No.  1,  some  of  the 
shells  falling  near  our  battery,  but  doing  no  damage. 

"The  whole  scetie  during  the  afternoon  was  highly  ex- 

[42] 


•>    #• 


* 


MAP    OF    THE    BATTLE    OF    BUENA    VISTA 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

citing.  The  skirmishing  on  the  mountain  was  in  full  view 
of  both  armies,  and  when  our  party  gained  any  little  ad 
vantage,  the  most  tremendous  cheering  would  follow  from 
every  regiment  and  corps.  This  hallooing,  some  of  the 
Mexican  prisoners  say,  annoyed  them  terribly,  for  they 
thought  it  useless  to  fight  against  men  who  fought  for  fun. 
The  rattling  of  the  musketry,  the  wreaths  of  smoke,  the 
cloud  that  occasionally  gushed  from  the  mouth  of  the  twen 
ty-four  pounder,  followed  at  a  short  interval  by  its  tre 
mendous  thunder,  the  battalioned  hosts  on  either  side,  and 
last  but  not  least,  a  beautiful  rain-bow  in  the  N.  E.  almost 
in  our  rear,  seeming  to  hold  out  to  us  a  brilliant  hope,  all 
conspired  to  render  the  scene  inexpressibly  grand. 

"The  skirmishing  continued  till  dark  and  even  after  dark, 
an  occasionel  flash  far  up  the  mountain  and  the  boom  of  a 
musket  showed  that  light  was  all  that  was  wanted  to  renew 
the  conflict. 

"Our  regiment  remained  in  its  position  during  the  night. 
I  went  down  to  camp  and  got  my  blankets  and  lay  down 
with  Colonel  Hardin  at  the  Breastworks.  About  eight 
o'clock  I  was  up  looking  around  and  saw  a  flash  and  then 
a  report  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  in  front  of  our  battery  where 
we  had  posted  a  picket.  They  soon  came  in  with  a  prisoner 
— a  real  live  Mexican  soldier — this  was  the  first  one  we  had 
seen  at  close  hand — he  was  one  of  a  small  reconnoitering 
party  sent  out  to  look  at  our  position — the  others  were 
killed. 

"During  the  night  Washington's  battery  was  drawn  with 
in  the  pass  and  a  bank  thrown  up  to  protect  it.  I  stood 
guard  on  the  hill  alternately  with  the  Colonel  all  night.  Just 
before  daybreak  it  was  my  watch.  I  saw  flashes  and  heard 
reports  near  the  gully  at  No.  6 — it  was  the  pickets  of  the 
two  armies  lying  close  together  all  night,  and  firing  upon 
each  other  as  soon  as  light  showed  an  object.  As  the  light 
increased  the  skirmishing  recommenced  on  the  mountain. 

"A  heavy  Mexican  column  was  formed  and  made  a 
movement  to  march  up  the  road.  As  they  came  opposite 
the  ruined  rancho  and  were  uncovered  by  the  hill  near  the 
deep  gully,  Washington  opened  his  battery  upon  them.  The 
first  shell  fell  short  but  the  next  fell  in  the  ranks  of  the 

[43] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

heavy  column  and  the  effect  was  terrible.  It  opened  a  gap 
wide  and  long,  and  fragments  of  men  and  horses  were  seen 
flying  in  the  air.  The  column  deployed  to  the  right  double 
quick  and  gained  the  cover  of  the  hill  in  front.  It  moved 
up  toward  our  left  and  formed  near  the  mountain.  A  heavy 
battery  of  sixteen  pounders  was  then  planted,  forming 
'Mexican  Battery'  No.  2.  O'Brien  in  the  meantime  had 
been  making  it  lively  on  the  mountain — he  threw  a  few 
shells  among  the  Mexican  skirmishers  on  the  mountain  and 
silenced  the  whole  division,  which  had  been  playing  a  lively 
tune  all  morning. 

"About  eight  o'clock  the  engineers  reported  a  heavy  col 
umn  moving  up  along  the  foot  of  the  mountain  on  our  left, 
supported  by  a  large  body  of  lancers  and  under  the  cover 
of  Battery  No.  2.  The  Second  Illinois  was  ordered  up  to 
support  O'Brien,  who  was  threatened  by  the  advance  of  the 
Mexican  column  along  the  foot  of  the  mountains.  Colonel 
Bissell  moved  up  with  seven  companies — two  of  his  being 
in  town  and  the  others  having  gone  as  skirmishers  to  sup 
port  the  Mississippians.  The  Kentucky  Infantry  were  also 
ordered  up  from  the  other  side  of  the  deep  gulley. 

"When  the  Second  Illinois  had  reached  a  point  near  No. 
7  the  whole  Mexican  line,  battery  and  all,  opened  a  murder 
ous  fire  upon  them.  I  was  then  standing  on  the  breastwork 
in  full  view  of  the  fight  and  watched  with  intense  anxiety 
the  Blue  Banner  of  the  Second  enveloped  as  it  was  in 
wreaths  of  sulphurous  smoke.  It  continued  to  fly,  and  as 
the  Mexican  column  advanced  firing,  they  opened  their  fire, 
and  such  a  peal  as  rang  along  the  ranks  of  the  gallant  Sec 
ond  had  not  before  been  heard  on  the  field.  They  sustained 
the  fire  of  that  column,  which  must  have  been  eight  or  ten 
thousand,  for  twenty  minutes.  Colonel  Churchill  then  rode 
up  and  ordered  them  to  fall  back,  which  they  did  in  good 
order,  though  their  ranks  were  woefully  thinned. 

"By  this  time  the  Kentucky  Infantry  had  reached  the 
field  and  commenced  their  fire.  The  Second  were  slowly  re 
tiring.  Bragg's  and  Sherman's  batteries  had  come  up  and 
opened  a  fire,  but  still  the  Mexican  column  advanced.  All 
this  time  Colonel  Hardin  was  keen  and  anxious  to  be  or 
dered  onto  the  plateau.  A  heavy  Mexican  column,  drawn 

[44] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

up  near  their  Battery  No.  1,  threatened  the  road — but  did 
not  advance.  At  length  about  nine-thirty  o'clock  we  got 
orders  to  move  up  to  support  the  Kentucky  Infantry  on  the 
right.  Colonel  Hardin  moved  out  with  four  companies, 
leaving  two  in  position  at  the  breastworks.  At  the  head  of 
the  ravine,  No.  8,  we  encountered  the  first  fire.  We  were 
advancing  toward  No.  7  when  a  heavy  force  concealed  in 
that  ravine,  opened  a  fire  on  our  flank.  The  Colonel 
wheeled  his  command  to  the  right — ordered  a  'charge  bayo 
nets/  and  we  moved  up  in  line  and  soon  started  the  game. 
They  could  not  stand  the  cold  steel.  This  was  the  only  time 
the  bayonet  was  resorted  to  during  the  engagement.  The 
Mexicans  broke  and  fled  in  disorder  across  that  ravine  and 
the  next  one  and  our  boys  following  at  a  run  and  pouring 
in  a  hot  fire. 

"In  that  ravine  we  killed,  wounded  and  captured  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  of  the  'Hombres'.  Taken  in  all,  that 
charge  was  the  most  brilliant  thing  of  the  day. 

"In  the  meantime  the  heavy  Mexican  column  had  turned 
our  left,  and  a  large  body  of  infantry  and  lancers  had 
crossed  the  ravine  near  the  Mexican  Battery  No.  3.  The 
First  moved  across  the  plateau  to  the  ravine  at  No.  9  and 
were  there  ordered  to  support  Bragg's  battery,  which  was 
playing  upon  a  force  which  was  then  planting  the  Battery 
No.  3.  The  lancers  who 'had  crossed  the  ravine  about  this 
time,  made  a  charge  on  the  Rancho  Buena  Vista,  where  they 
had  learned  our  stores  were. 

"I  am  informed  that  Santa  Ana  in  a  speech  to  his  forces 
that  morning  before  the  action,  told  them  that  he  had  noth 
ing  to  give  them  to  eat,  that  two  hours'  fighting  would  se 
cure  all  our  stores  and  we  had  plenty.  The  charge  of  the 
lancers  was  a  most  desperate  one.  They  were  in  a  starving 
condition  and  fighting  for  their  breakfasts.  They  were  gal 
lantly  met  by  the  Arkansas  and  Kentucky  cavalry,  who  re 
pulsed  them  with  considerable  loss,  but  in  the  charge  Col 
onel  Yell  fell.  The  lancers  were  divided  and  a  part  of  them 
driven  down  across  the  gully  west  of  the  Ranche.  The  oth 
ers  were  driven  back  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains  on  the 
east,  where  their  infantry,  reinforced  by  a  large  number  of 
Ampudio's  light  troops,  had  formed. 

[45] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"The  Mississippi  and  Indiana  regiments  were  ordered  to 
charge  them.  The  Mexican  force  were,  however,  hemmed 
in  by  the  mounted  regiments  and  the  Mississippians  and 
Indianians  and  brought  to  a  stand  at  No.  10  about  one 
o'clock ;  while  things  were  in  this  position  a  white  flag  was 
seen  advancing  from  Battery  No.  3.  Bragg  held  his  fire 
and  General  Taylor  rode  up  to  our  position  at  No.  11  and 
sent  out  a  party  to  meet  and  receive  the  flag. 

"In  a  few  minutes  two  Mexican  officers,  one  of  them  an 
elderly  man  with  a  blue  jacket  and  a  fur  collar,  and  the 
other  a  young  olive-colored  Spaniard,  bedecked  with  green 
cloth  and  gold  lace,  his  lower  extremities  enveloped  in  a 
most  magnificent  pair  of  fur  leggings — came  upon  foot, 
doffed  their  beavers  and  said  Santa  Ana  wanted  to  know 
'what  General  Taylor  wanted!' 

"I  was  standing  close  to  Old  Zack  at  the  time  and  saw 
his  lips  quiver.  'Tell  General  Santa  Ana  that  I  want  him 
and  his  whole  army  to  surrender  and  I'll  treat  them  as  pris 
oners  of  war  and  I'll  give  him  an  hour  to  determine.'  Some 
of  his  staff  here  suggested  that  the  movement  might  be 
to  gain  time  and  that  an  hour  was  too  much,  so  he  altered  it 
to  half  an  hour. 

"The  whiskered  and  furred  and  laced  gentlemen  touched 
their  hats  'Adios,  Senors,'  and  left.  In  ten  minutes  the 
Battery  No.  3  opened  with  renewed  vigor  upon  us  and  their 
fire  was  directed  particularly  at  the  white  horse  that  Old 
Zack  rode.  Their  cannonading  was  tremendous.  We  were 
not  more  than  five  or  six  hundred  yards  from  them,  and  the 
shower  of  shots,  shells,  grape  and  cannister  that  hurtled 
over  our  heads  was  anything  but  music  to  our  ears.  One 
of  their  shots  struck  and  killed  a  man  and  two  horses  at  one 
of  our  guns. 

"At  the  same  time  the  column  of  infantry  and  lancers  at 
No.  10  commenced  retreating  slowly  along  the  foot  of  the 
mountain  under  the  heavy  fire  of  Battery  No.  3.  A  large 
body  was  collected  in  the  head  of  the  ravine  in  rear  of  Bat 
tery  No.  3.  Bragg  threw  a  few  shells  among  them  and  they 
retreated  in  confusion  along  the  foot  of  the  moontain  in 
rear  of  their  battery. 

"But  for  the  delay  occasioned  by  the  flag  of  truce  we 

[46] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

would  have  captured  that  whole  division,  for  they  could  not 
have  held  out  against  the  fire  that  was  poured  upon  them 
from  our  lines.  We  continued  our  fire  upon  them  until 
near  four  o'clock  the  First  covering  itself  from  the  Mex 
ican  battery  under  the  side  of  the  ravine  near  No.  9 — their 
volley  frequently  passing  only  two  or  three  feet  above  our 
heads. 

"About  four  o'clock  the  Mexican  batery  No.  3  ceased 
firing  and  at  the  same  time  Captain  Chilton,  of  the  Quarter 
master's  Department,  rode  up  and  told  Colonel  Hardin  that 
he  was  ordered  to  the  right  to  make  a  charge — that  the 
Dragoons  were  moving  up  and  he  must  hurry  or  he  would 
be  too  late.  We  were  at  that  time  moving  up  the  ravine  on 
the  left  of  Bragg's  and  a  part  of  Washington's  batteries  in 
tending  to  occupy  the  position  at  Mexican  battery  No.  3.  I 
looked  round  and  saw  the  Squadron  First  Dragoons  moving 
up  quickly  in  our  rear — on  the  right  of  our  battery  were 
the  fragments  of  the  Second  Illinois  and  the  Kentucky  In 
fantry  at  No.  12.  We  filed  right  by  the  heads  of  companies 
and  passed  through  the  battery  which  was  still  advancing, 
and  came  into  line  again  on  the  right. 

"The  First  was  then  some  distance  in  advance  of  any 
other  troops  in  the  field,  but  all  were  moving  forward.  Just 
as  we  came  into  line  on  the  right  I  saw  the  bayonets  of  a 
heavy  column  over  a  slight  rise  near  the  head  of  ravine  at 
No.  13,  and  we  had  not  advanced  twenty  paces  before  we 
received  the  fire  of  the  column.  They  were  a  reserve  of 
about  six  thousand  fresh  troops  who  had  not  been  engaged 
before  and  were  brought  up  to  cover  the  retreat  of  their 
shattered  forces.  As  soon  as  we  received  their  fire,  we  in 
clined  to  the  right,  at  a  run  and  gained  the  cover  of  the 
ravine  at  No.  14.  The  five  companies  of  the  First  and  the 
shattered  fragments  of  the  Second  then  opened  their  fire. 
O'Brien,  with  his  pieces,  began  operations — the  Kentucky 
Infantry  came  upon  our  right  and  the  most  tremendous  fir 
ing  ensued  that  ever  mortal  man  conceived!  To  give  you 
some  idea  of  the  perfect  torrent  of  shot,  the  whistling  of 
the  Mexican  bullets  alone  was  almost  sufficient  to  drown  the 
report  of  their  guns,  tho'  they  were  only  fifty  yards  from  us. 
I  kept  looking  over  the  edge  of  the  hill  to  see  the  charge  of 

[47] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

our  Dragoons,  as  I  wanted  to  see  that  very  much.  But  in 
stead  of  that  I  saw  them  turn  and  leave  the  field. 

"The  Mexican  column,  emboldened  by  their  retreat,  ad 
vanced  upon  us,  outflanking  us  on  both  sides.  O'Brien  was 
obliged  to  fall  back,  having  no  troops  to  support  his  battery 
— that  vast  column  flanked  by  eight  hundred  lancers  moved 
on — we  held  our  position  until  they  appeared  on  either  flank 
and  the  shot  poured  upon  us  from  all  sides.  Up  to  this  time 
the  First  had  lost  only  three  men  killed.  Colonel  Hardin, 
seeing  that  we  were  entirely  unsupported — that  we,  little 
more  than  five  hundred  men  against  seven  thousand,  and 
that  they  outflanked  us  everywhere — at  length  reluctantly 
gave  the  order  to  retreat.  I  stood  by  him  at  the  time — Col 
onel  Bissell  of  the  Second,  was  with  us — I  saw  from  Har- 
din's  countenance  that  he  was  troubled.  When  the  men  had 
got  half  way  down  the  hill,  which  is  steep  and  long,  he  or 
dered  a  halt,  himself  standing  near  the  top  of  the  hill.  Most 
of  our  Illinois  regiments  halted  and  formed  line,  and  if  we 
had  had  the  whole  of  our  regiment  I've  no  doubt  Colonel 
Hardin  would  have  charged  the  Mexican  column  with  the 
bayonet. 

"As  it  was,  the  Kentucky  regiment  was  running,  and  we 
could  muster  not  more  than  two  hundred  and  fifty  men. 
He  turned  again  toward  the  top  of  the  hill,  and  I  turned  at 
the  same  time  and  saw  the  heads  of  the  advancing  foe  with 
in  ten  paces  of  us.  The  Colonel  turned  and  said  it  was  no 
use,  and  again  gave  the  order  to  retreat.  We  all  started 
and  when  I  got  to  the  bottom  of  the  ravine  I  turned  and 
looked  back — the  balls  were  falling  like  hail  around  us — the 
whole  brink  of  the  hill  where  we  had  just  stood  and  on  eith 
er  side  was  lined  with  Mexican  Infantry  in  their  long,  tall 
hats,  bedecked  with  tinsel,  and  their  blue  overcoats  stream 
ing  in  the  wind ; — and  what  was  more  interesting  to  us  just 
then,  their  long  glittering  muskets  pointing  directly  at  us 
as  if  they  were  really  trying  to  shoot  us.  They  are  most 
miserable  shots  or  they  would  have  killed  every  one  of  us 
huddled  as  we  were  in  utter  confusion,  officers  and  men  in 
the  bottom  of  that  narrow  ravine  forming  a  focus  for  their 
shot  poured  from  the  top  of  the  hill  in  rear  and  on  either 

[48] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

flank.  The  bullets  struck  the  rock  close  about  me  and  one 
spent  ball  struck  me  on  the  shin — but  I  did  not  notice  it  till 
next  day.  I  dodged  when  a  few  of  the  first  ones  whistled 
close  to  my  ear ;  but  soon  came  to  the  conclusion  that  it  was 
no  use  to  dodge — if  I  got  shot  it  was  my  bad  luck  and  if  I 
didn't,  it  was  my  good  luck.  So  I  determined  to  run  my 
luck  and  I  stood  square  up  to  plain,  straight- for  ward  run 
ning. 

"About  half  way  down  the  ravine  I  tread  upon  a  rolling 
rock  and  sprained  my  ankle ;  at  the  same  time  I  dropped  a 
horse  pistol  that  I  was  carrying  in  my  sword  belt.  Just 
then  I  cast  my  eyes  up  to  the  top  of  the  hill  on  my  left  and 
saw  several  lancers  riding  at  full  speed  toward  the  mouth  of 
the  ravine,  and  I  knew  their  object  was  to  cut  off  our  re 
treat.  I  turned  and  walked  back  and  picked  up  my  pistol, 
thinking  I  might  have  occasion  to  use  it.  I  ran  on  and 
when  I  reached  the  mouth  of  the  ravine,  the  lancers  were 
pouring  over  the  point  of  the  hill  at  No.  15,  yelling  and 
cussing  in  Spanish  like  devils.  I  had  just  rounded  the  point 
at  No.  16  when  Washington's  battery  opened  upon  the 
lancers. 

"The  first  shell  whistled  close  to  me  and  burst  within 
fifty  yards  of  me.  I've  heard  many  sweet  sounds — the 
voices  of  lovely  women  and  the  melodious  breathings  of 
sweet  instruments,  but  the  whistling  of  that  shell  was  the 
most  grateful  sound  that  ever  greeted  my  ear.  It  was  ter 
rible  ;  the  main  body  of  the  lancers  scampered  back  over  the 
hill,  leaving  their  colonel  and  several  of  their  comrades 
dead.  A  small  detachment  of  forty  or  fifty  took  shelter  in 
the  mouth  of  the  ravine,  and  it  was  they  that  killed  nearly 
all  that  fell  of  our  regiment.  Colonel  Hardin  fell  by  their 
hands,  so  did  Colonel  McKee  and  Lieutenant  Colonel  Clay 
(a  son  of  old  Henry's.")  [Adjutant  Wallace  is  too  modest 
to  relate  that  when  Colonel  Hardin  was  killed  he  rallied  the 
remnant  of  the  regiment  and  led  it  to  safety.] 

"Colonel  Hardin  was  found  half  an  hour  afterwards  at 
No.  17  lanced  through  the  body  in  four  places,  his  pockets 
rifled,  his  sword  gone  and  a  Mexican  lance,  cut  nearly  in 
two  by  a  blow  of  his  sabre,  lying  by  his  side.  All  who  had 

[49] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

been  wounded  by  the  heavy  fire  in  the  ravine  and  were  able 
to  crawl  to  the  mouth  of  the  ravine  were  there  butchered 
by  those  infernal  lancers. 

"After  Washington's  battery  opened  I  took  it  more  leis 
urely — in  fact,  I  was  too  much  exhausted  to  run  further. 
We  had  been  on  the  field  for  more  than  six  hours — the 
ground  over  which  we  had  just  run  was  rough,  and  I  was 
barely  able  to  reach  the  point  at  the  battery — crawled  round 
the  point  of  the  hill  and  lay  down  completely  exhausted.  I 
had  just  done  so  when  the  Mexican  Battery  No.  1  opened  a 
tremendous  fire  of  twenty- four  pound  shot  and  shells — they 
flew  thick,  tearing  up  the  earth  and  stone  on  the  point  of  the 
hill  and  raising  a  cloud  of  dust  around  me.  I  lay  still,  how 
ever,  until  I  got  my  breath,  then  went  to  the  top  of  the  hill 
to  the  breastwork  just  as  Colonel  Weather  ford  was  going 
out  with  our  three  fresh  companies,  to  resist  the  charge  of  a 
column  that  threatened  us  from  a  position  near  Mexican 
Battery  No.  3.  He  took  post  at  the  head  of  the  ravine  No. 
18  and  was  soon  joined  by  Colonel  Lane's  Indiana  regi 
ment.  A  few  scattering  shots  were  fired,  the  sun  went 
down  and  it  grew  dark  and  parties  remained  in  position. 

"  'Our  bugles  sang  truce  and  the  night  cloud  had  lowered/ 
I  went  down  with  Colonel  Weatherford  to  our  camp  to  get 
something  to  eat  and  some  blankets  to  lie  upon,  for  I  did 
not  expect  to  sleep  much.  We  found  the  camp,  and  es 
pecially  my  tent,  crowded  with  wounded.  I  was  surprised 
at  the  coolness  of  my  feelings  as  I  looked  upon  the  ghastly 
wounds  and  shattered  limbs  and  heard  the  deep  stifHed 
groans  of  my  suffering  countrymen.  But  the  fight  was  not 
yet  over.  I  felt  then  an  absolute  certainty  that  we  should 
have  to  rerenact  the  scenes  of  to-day  as  soon  as  light  came. 

"I  got  a  blanket  from  a  friend  and  again  went  on  to  the 
hill.  There  was  no  moon,  a  slight  breeze  rustled  the  flag 
close  to  me,  around  lay  the  forms  of  our  wearied  men  re 
posing  in  their  blankets  on  their  arms — across  the  hills  to 
the  front  the  fires  of  the  enemy's  camp  burned  brightly ;  and 
occasionally  as  the  breeze  rose  and  lulled,  I  could  hear  the 
creaking  of  wheels  and  the  noise  of  some  movement.  This 
confirmed  me  in  the  belief  that  we  should  have  another  and 
a  harder  fight  in  the  morning.  I  imagined  that  I  could  see 

[50] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

a  column  moving  down  the  road,  and  I  was  certain  they 
were  planting  heavy  ordnance  on  the  hill  in  front  of  us  to 
command  our  position.  I  believe  that  every  man  of  our 
command  had  determined  to  die  on  that  hill.  I  felt  there 
was  nothing  for  us  but  victory  or  death.  We  had  seen 
enough  through  the  day  to  convince  us  we  had  no  quarter  to 
expect.  Our  wounded  friends  butchered  in  cold  blood — the 
savage  ferocity  of  the  lancers  cut  off  all  hope  in  that  quar 
ter.  Retreat  was  equally  impossible.  A  body  of  two  thou 
sand  lancers  had  entered  through  the  Palomas  pass  and 
were  hovering  about  town,  and  had  been  slightly  engaged 
during  the  day  with  a  detachment  from  town.  We  had  rea 
son  to  believe  that  larger  bodies  had  been  sent  toward  Mon 
terey,  and  what  I  have  since  ascertained  to  be  the  case,  the 
mountains  and  valleys  on  either  side  of  us  were  filled  and 
covered  with  rancheros  from  all  the  neighboring  towns  and 
settlements — even  as  far  as  Parras  and  Monclova,  watching 
the  result  of  the  fight  and  ready  to  participate  in  the  pil 
lage  and  slaughter  of  our  defeat. 

"Under  all  these  circumstances  courage  was  no  virtue,  or 
at  least  a  virtue  of  necessity.  With  these  thoughts  and  feel 
ings  I  lay  down  with  Colonel  Weatherford.  Neither  of  us 
spoke.  But  my  fatigue  soon  overcame  me  and  I  went  to 
sleep  and  slept  till  near  daylight.  I  got  up,  the  Mexican 
fires  burned  dim,  and  most  of  them  were  entirely  out.  I 
could  hear  no  noise,  but  thought  I  could  discover  a  cloud  of 
dust  far  up  the  road.  I  could  not  then  hope  they  were  gone. 
I  stood  upon  the  breastwork,  looking  out  keenly — day  broke 
— it  grew  gradually  light.  I  looked  to  the  foot  of  the  moun 
tain  at  Battery  No.  3  and  thought  I  could  see  the  dim  out 
lines  of  the  column  that  rested  there  at  dark  the  night  be 
fore.  The  light  increased  and  I  saw  what  I  had  taken  for  a 
column  to  be  a  row  of  palmetto.  I  looked  up  the  road  and 
saw  distinctly  the  dust  of  their  retreating  column.  Oh, 
what  a  feeling  of  relief  came  over  me.  I  set  up  a  shout  of 
victory — it  was  a  mockery,  however,  I  had  the  day  before 
felt  very  much  as  I  should  suppose  a  whipped  man  would 
feel — and  I've  no  doubt — inter  nos — had  it  been  just  as  con 
venient  for  us,  as  for  Santa  Ana  to  vamos  we  would  have 
been  off  for  Monterey. 

[51] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"But  no  matter  for  that,  we  were  in  possession  of  the 
field — the  enemy  was  retiring,  leaving  his  dead  and  wound 
ed,  or  a  large  portion  of  them,  on  the  ground. 

"During  the  night  Major  Warren's  command  had  come 
up  from  town  and  taken  post  with  Colonel  Weatherford's 
detachment.  After  breakfast  I  walked  up  onto  the  plateau. 
I  felt  a  curiosity  to  see  the  effect  of  our  fire  at  the  head  of 
the  ravine  at  No.  14.  I  thought  during  the  time  we  were 
engaged  that  our  men  were  firing  too  high,  and  I  gave  them 
orders  to  'shoot  low/  On  the  plateau  I  met  with  our  Otta 
wa  boys.  They  had  lain  all  night  on  the  field,  though  not 
there  during  the  fight.  They  were  all  as  anxious  as 
tigers,  but  I'm  rather  glad  they  were  not  there,  for  we 
should  have  had  some  of  them  to  bury,  without  materially 
altering  the  result.  I  walked  over  the  field  with  some  of 
them.  Such  a  scene.  I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  it.  At 
the  head  of  the  Ravine  No.  14  a  pile  of  dead  Mexicans 
showed  the  fatal  efficacy  of  our  fire,  and  nearly  all  were 
shot  through  the  head. 

"We  collected  the  wounded,  who  were  suffering  awfully 
from  hunger  and  thirst  as  well  as  their  wounds,  and  sent 
them  to  hospitals  in  town.  During  the  day  we  collected  and 
buried  our  dead,  amounting  to  two  hundred  and  seventy. 
The  remains  of  Colonels  Hardin,  McKee  and  Clay  were 
taken  to  Saltillo  and  there  interred.  The  wounded,  both 
American  and  Mexican,  were  collected  and  cared  for  in  the 
hospitals  there. 

"It  was  amusing  to  see  our  volunteers  when  the  poor 
miserable  famished  Mexicans  were  brought  in — for  we  took 
a  large  number  of  prisoners  through  the  day.  'D —  them,' 
they  would  say,  'they  ought  to  have  their  throats  cut,  but 
let's  give  the  poor  devils  something  to  eat,'  and  it  was  a 
treat  to  see  them  eat.  They  had  been  in  a  half  starving 
condition  during  their  forced  march  from  San  Luis  Potosi. 
When  coffee  and  biscuit  were  placed  before  them  they 
showed  even  in  their  famished  state  some  signs  of  surprise 
and  gratitude.  This  was  the  greatest  victory  of  all,  a  vic 
tory  unstained  by  blood  and  the  feelings  for  its  success  un 
checked  by  any  mournful  thoughts. 

"The  Mexican  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  muse 

[52] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

have  been  at  least  three  thousand.  Our  loss  in  killed,  two 
hundred  and  seventy,  in  wounded,  four  hundred  and  sixty. 
Taken  all  in  all,  it  was  the  Waterloo  of  the  continent. 
Never  were  our  arms  successfully  engaged  against  such 
fearful  odds.  And  then  it  was  a  volunteer  fight,  and  the 
brightest  commentary  on  free  institutions  that  the  age  af 
fords.  Aside  from  the  artillery,  all  the  fighting  was  done 
by  the  citizen  soldiery.  May's  and  Stein's  gaudy  dragoons 
constituted  the  pomp  and  pride,  while  the  volunteer  forces 
made  up  the  'circumstance'  of  the  glorious  fight. 

"An  effort  is  now  being  made  by  the  regular  officers  to 
get  up  the  impression  that  we  had  greatly  the  advantage  in 
position.  Whatever  advantage  of  position  we  had,  was  the 
result  of  our  fortification  at  the  pass,  and  but  for  Colonel 
Hardin's  earnest  request  we  would  not  have  had  that — and 
that  was  all  lost  as  soon  as  the  Mexicans  gained  the  posi 
tion  at  Battery  No.  3.  That  point  commanded  the  whole 
field  and  that  battery  raked  our  breastwork  on  the  hill  and 
shells  fell  and  burst  in  our  camp.  You  will  also  see  by  my 
description  that  at  one  time  we  were  nearly  surrounded. 
Where  was  the  advantage  of  position  then?  No!  nothing 
but  the  bull-dog  courage  and  perseverance  of  the  volun 
teers  saved  the  day. 

"And  then  in  generalship,  Santa  Ana  had  greatly  the 
advantage.  Our  forces  were  sent  into  action  one  detach 
ment  at  a  time  and  might  easily  have  been  cut  off  in  detail. 
The  seven  companies  of  the  Second  Illinois  Regiment  met 
the  shock  of  their  main  charge  alone.  Was  this  general 
ship  ?  Old  Zack  and  Wool  both  have  personal  courage,  but 
in  all  the  qualities  of  generalship  they  are  wofully  defi 
cient.  Colonel  Hardin  was  more  of  a  military  genius  than 
any  general  on  the  field.  He  reconnoitred  the  ground  be 
tween  our  position  and  the  mountain  on  the  morning  of  the 
twenty-second,  and  was  engaged  in  it  when  the  enemy 
came  in  sight.  As  soon  as  he  returned  he  said  to  me,  'The 
fight  will  be  up  there'  pointing  to  the  plateau,  'the  enemy 
will  never  attempt  this  pass  while  they  can  come  there.' 

"They  may  try  to  disparage  the  brilliancy  of  the  achieve 
ment  by  such  means,  but  they  can't  do  it,  and  this  victory  is 
another  severe  blow  on  the  regular  army. 

[53] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"I  have  given  my  feelings  and  thoughts,  freely  and  un 
varnished,  and  have  endeavored  to  give  an  accurate  account 
of  the  whole  affair.  It  is  difficult  for  even  an  eye-witness 
to  give  all  the  details  of  so  extended  a  field  as  that  was, 
especially  if  he  himself  was  engaged,  and  then  there  were 
frequently  impediments  to  one's  seeing  all  that  was  going 
on, — for  instance  while  one  was  lying  in  a  ravine  close  to 
the  ground  with  a  shower  of  grape  splitting  the  air  three 
feet  above  him,  it  was  difficult  to  tell  exactly  what  was 
going  on  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill. 

"But  I  have  gathered  items  and  compared  notes  with 
others  engaged  in  different  parts  of  the  field,  and  believe  my 
account  to  be  substantially  correct.  ****** 

"March  13th.  I  have  been  writing  the  above  between 
times  as  I  could  snatch  a  moment  from  other  duties,  which 
are  arduous  just  now.  Eaton  being  in  town  I  have  no  help 
and  a  great  deal  of  writing  to  do.  ***** 

Most  sincerely  yours — 

W.  H.  L.  WALLACE. 


[54] 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  ILLINOIS  TROOPS  RETURN  HOME.    WALLACE  ENDEA 
VORS  TO  REENTER  THE  ARMY. 

SOON  after  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  new  officers  were 
elected  to  fill  the  places  of  those  slain  in  the  battle. 
On    February    twenty-seventh    the    command    moved 
to  Aqua  Nueva  by  General  Taylor's  order,  but  returned  to 
Buena  Vista  on  the  tenth  of  March  from  where  the  follow 
ing  letter  was  written : 

"Camp  Buena  Vista,  March  14,  1847. 

"DEAR  FATHER:  I  wrote  you  from  this  place  a  day  or 
two  after  the  battle.  On  the  twenty-sixth  we  had  an  elec 
tion  to  fill  vacancies  in  our  regiment.  Colonel  Weatherford 
was  unanimously  elected  Colonel  to  fill  Colonel  Hardin's 
place.  Major  Warren  was  elected  Lieutenant  Colonel  and 
Captain  Richardson,  Major.  Our  new  Major  is  a  prince  of 
good  fellows  and  a  man  of  splendid  talents. 

"On  the  twenty-seventh  we  moved  to  Aqua  Nueva.  A 
day  or  two  aftenvards  a  detachment  was  sent  out  to  In- 
carnatione,  a  hacienda  forty  miles  toward  San  Luis.  They 
found  the  place  filled  with  dead  and  wounded  Mexicans, 
but  no  armed  force.  General  Taylor  sent  out  wagon  loads 
of  provisions  as  they  were  in  a  starving  condition.  *  *  * 
The  Mexicans  all  say  Santa  Ana's  prospects  are  ruined. 
He  has  written  to  the  Governor  of  Saltillo  that  he  was 
compelled  by  Congress  to  fight  this  battle  against  his 
wishes,  without  supplies,  and  that  the  disgrace  of  the  de 
feat  must  rest  where  it  properly  belongs — that  he  would 
have  nothing  to  do  with  the  future  military  movements  of 
the  Mexican  Government. 

"I  saw  our  old  friend  Don  Manuel  Evara  from  Parras. 
He  says  Santa  Ana  is  moving  directly  for  the  City  of 
Mexico,  that  a  rupture  between  him  and  the  Mexican  Con 
gress  is  anticipated.  That  battle  was  a  terrible  blow  to  the 
Mexicans.  Santa  Ana  had  displayed  the  most  consum- 

[55] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

mate  generalship  in  the  disposition  of  his  troops.  He 
knew  to  a  man  our  numbers  and  brought  enough  with  him 
as  anyone  would  have  reasonably  supposed  to  crush  us.  He 
had  sent  strong  detachments  of  horse  to  intercept  communi 
cation  between  here  and  Monterey  and  between  Monterey 
and  the  Rio  Grande,  and  all  these  different  columns  reached 
their  destination  the  same  day.  Had  he  succeeded  in  de 
feating  us  here,  we  would  have  been  cut  off  from  all  re 
treat.  The  mountains  and  valleys  on  every  side  of  us  were 
covered  and  filled  with  armed  rancheros  from  even  as  far 
as  Parras  and  Monclova,  watching  the  result  of  the  battle 
and  eager  to  join  the  pillage  and  slaughter  of  our  defeat. 
On  the  field  that  day  he  exhibited  the  keenest  sagacity  in 
detecting  and  seizing  upon  the  advantages  of  the  ground, 
advantages  that  had  been  overlooked  by  our  commanders, 
although  the  ground  had  been  frequently  examined. 

"We  returned  here  on  the  tenth  and  are  fortifying  our 
old  position.  Your  affectionate  son, 

W.  H.  L.  WALLACE." 

A  letter  written  by  T.  Lyle  Dickey  of  Ottawa  on  March 
15,  1847,  tells  something  of  the  sentiment  toward  the  volun 
teers  in  Illinois.  After  speaking  of  the  rumors  they  had  re 
ceived  of  an  approaching  battle  of  which  they  seemed  to 
know  nothing  definite,  he  says :  "And  we  are  waiting  anx 
iously  to  hear  of  your  glorious  exploits.  If  you  have  had  a 
great  fight,  while  we  rejoice  that  you  have  had  a  field  to 
shine  upon,  we  tremble  lest  some  of  our  best  loved  brothers 
may  have  fallen,  a  few  days  must  tell  the  story.  *  *  *  * 
There  are  oft  repeated  expressions  of  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  the  volunteers.  *'  *  *  *  I  don't  mean  that 
such  interest  is  manifested  by  everybody,  not  so.  On  the 
contrary  in  the  minds  of  most  people  in  the  State  of  Illinois 
there  is  a  proneness  to  laugh  at  and  ridicule  every  man  who 
has  entered  the  army.  I  attribute  this  to  the  jealousy  of 
aspirants  who  wish  to  protect  against  the  future  popularity 
of  such.  The  ladies  are  generally  with  you  and  a  host  of 
personal  friends." 

The  army  remained  near  Saltillo  over  three  months  and 
on  the  eighth  of  May  the  troops  left  for  Monterey,  where 

[56] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

they  encamped  and  gradually  one  regiment  after  another 
was  discharged  and  sent  home  when  their  year's  term  of 
enlistment  ended.  In  June  the  First  was  discharged,  and 
the  soldiers  returned  north  in  time  to  spend  the  Fourth  of 
July  at  their  homes. 

Mr.  Wallace  returned  to  his  home  in  Ottawa,  Illinois, 
but  his  taste  of  military  life  had  given  him  a  strong  in 
clination  to  reenter  the  Army.  Before  leaving  Mexico  his 
friends  had  written  to  Washington  in  his  behalf.  The  fol 
lowing  letter  from  Colonel  Sylvester  Churchill,  Inspector 
General  United  States  Army,  was  one  of  these : 

Ins.  Gens.  Dept.  Army. 
"Aqua  Nueva  Mex.  March  8th,  1847. 
"SiR: — Having  been  with  and  witnessed  the  good  con 
duct  of  Lieutenants  William  H.  L.  Wallace  and  William 
Erwin  of  the  First  regiment  Illinois  Volunteers  (late  Colo 
nel  Hardin's)  for  nearly  all  the  time  since  I  mustered  them 
into  service  at  Alton  last  July  and  observed  their  ardor  and 
gallantry  at  the  battle  of  Buena  Vista  the  22d  and  23d 
inst,  I  have  sincere  pleasure  in  recommending  them  to  the 
favorable  consideration  of  the  President  for  the  appoint 
ment  of  lieutenants  in  any  new  regiment  afoot  which  may 
be  raised.  I  have  the  honor  to  be 

"With  great  respect 
"Your  mo.  obt.  serv't 
"S.  CHURCHILL, 

"Ins.  Gen." 

"To  HON.  W.  L.  MARCY 
Secretary  of  War 
Washington  D.  C. 

Major  W.  A.  Richardson  returned  home  and  entered 
into  the  practice  of  law.  He  was  soon  after  elected  to  Con 
gress  from  the  Fifth  Congressional  District  by  a  very  large 
majority.  He  served  eleven  years  in  the  House  of  Repre 
sentatives  and  two  years  in  the  Senate.  Mr.  Wallace  wrote 
asking  his  aid  in  getting  a  commission  in  the  Army.  Major 
Richardson  answers  the  letter  in  August  1847,  as  follows: 
"Judge  Douglas  has  promised  to  write  to  Washington  for 
you  and  Erwin  and  I  have  written  to  Erwin  to  get  Went- 

[57] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

worth  to  do  the  same,  which  I  think  he  will  do  without  hesi 
tation.  *  *  *  *  Let  me  hear  from  you  for  I  assure  you 
I  take  interest  in  all  your  movements  and  recur  now  as  I 
hope  I  ever  shall  to  our  associations  with  pleasure. 

"I  am  truly  your  friend 
"  W.  A.  RICHARDSON." 

Mr.  Wallace  thinking  his  applications  at  Washington  for 
appointment  in  the  army  were  not  being  attended  to  wrote 
and  asked  for  them  to  be  returned  to  him,  and  received  the 
following  letter  from  Judge  Young,  then  Senator  from 
Illinois. 

"WASHINGTON  CITY,  August  19,  1847. 

"DEAR  SIR: — Yours  dated  at  Mount  Morris  July  30th, 
requesting  me  to  withdraw  the  letters  of  recommendation 
forwarded  to  my  care  from  Mexico,  has  been  received,  and 
I  now  return  them  to  you  as  requested. 

"I  regret  to  perceive  at  the  close  of  your  letter  the  belief 
expressed  by  you  that  these  recommendations,  which  were 
certainly  highly  creditable  to  your  standing  as  an  officer, 
had  not  received  from  me  that  attention  which  was  proper 
on  such  an  occasion,  and  especially  from  an  Illinoisan. 

"The  moment  I  received  these  communications  I 
hastened  with  them  to  the  War  Department  and  called  the 
attention  both  of  the  President  and  Secretary  of  War  to 
the  particular  merits  of  your  case,  and  the  highly  respecta 
ble  character  of  the  recommendations,  and  urged  the  pro 
priety  of  your  appointment  to  some  permanent  situation  in 
the  army  worthy  of  your  acceptance. 

"I  was  answered  that  there  were  then  no  vacancies,  but 
your  merits  and  claim  to  some  such  appointment  was  fully 
admitted  and  your  papers  placed  on  file,  with  the  promise 
that  you  should  be  provided  for,  as  soon  as  a  suitable  situa 
tion  could  be  procured  for  you. 

"There  was  no  vacancy  in  the  Quartermaster's  Depart 
ment  from  our  State. 

"The  only  hope  therefore  was  to  get  you  an  appointment 
in  the  regular  army — this  I  have  endeavored  to  do,  but  so 
far  without  success.  ******  There  are  many  ap 
plications  from  our  State  for  office,  many  more  than  you 

[58] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

would  suppose — and  but  few  can  be  gratified  out  of  the 
many  under  existing  circumstances. 

"The  appointments  from  Colonel  down,  in  our  volunteer 
regiments  are  made  by  the  volunteers  themselves,  *  *  * 
and  when  there  is  a  vacancy  in  the  regular  army,  if  it  is 
above  Second  Lieutenant,  it  is  filled  by  promotion,  so  that 
the  only  place  to  be  had  for  an  original  appointment  is  that 
of  Second  Lieutenant — and  then  we  have  to  contend  with 
numerous  applications  from  the  other  States,  as  well  as  the 
cadets  from  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point. 

"I  take  this  opportunity  of  sending  to  you  some  blank 
forms  for  land  warrants.  A  warrant  for  160  acres  will  sell 
here  for  $130  only,  which  may  be  regarded  as  the  current 
price  in  this  city.  I  am  very  respectfully 

RICHARD  M.  YOUNG." 

Lieut.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace, 
Ottawa,  Ills. 

In  October  Mr.  Wallace  received  a  letter  from  W.  A. 
Richardson  in  regard  to  the  foregoing  affairs : 

"DEAR  WALLACE  : — "I  received  in  due  time  your  last 
letter  and  reply  I  am  sorry  you  said  anything  to  Judge 
Young  that  wounded  his  feelings,  for  Young  is  a  clever 
man  and  has  influence  at  Washington  and  I  am  satisfied  he 
did  everything  to  procure  for  you  a  situation. 

"I  received  a  letter  from  the  Department  saying  that  at 
present  no  appointments  could  be  made  from  Illinois  for  the 
reason  that  we  had  our  full  share  which  was  a  source  of  re 
gret  to  me  and  the  withdrawal  of  your  application  may  en 
able  some  other  person  to  get  the  first  vacancy  that  may 
occur.  I  know  that  Judge  Ralston  will  resign,  if  he  has  not 
done  so,  this  fall  and  I  had  hopes  that  I  could  get  some 
friend  in  his  place,  and  I  have  no  fears  but  that  by  spring 
I  could  get  you  an  appointment,  as  vacancies  are  daily  oc 
curring  in  the  line  of  deaths,  resignation,  etc. 

"The  war  is  not  closed  and  will  not  be  for  some  time, 
more  troops  will  be  called  for  and  in  less  than  six  months 
you  can,  I  think,  get  back  to  Mexico.  I  may  be  mistaken  I 
will  see  what  I  can  do  for  you. 

"Write  to  me  at  Washington,  as  I  leave  in  a  few  days." 

[59] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Mr.  Wallace  answers  the  letter  as  follows : 

"OTTAWA  111.  Nov.  23,  1847. 

"My  DEAR  FRIEND: — "I  received  your  last  just  before 
you  left  for  Washington  and  was  gratified  by  the  kind  at 
tention.  I  shall  write  to  Judge  Young  immediately,  making 
apologies  for  my  rashness,  as  I  find  I  was  mistaken  in  one 
respect,  that  the  appointment  of  the  officers  in  the  ten  new 
regiments  were  made  before  he  got  my  papers  and  I  shall 
trust  somewhat  to  you  'to  make  it  all  right  with  him/ 

"I  believe  with  you  that  the  war  is  not  yet  closed,  and 
all  I  want  is  an  early  chance  in!  I  hope  you  may  be  able 
to  get  me  something  in  the  way  of  an  appointment  anything 
from  a  Quartermaster  to  a  Major  General.  I'm  not  parti 
cular,  though  I  should  prefer  a  commission  in  the  line. 

"I  enclose  the  recommendations  forwarded  last  spring. 
"Most  sincerely  your  friend, 

W.  H.  L.  WALLACE." 

"HoN.  W.  A.  RICHARDSON." 

The  delay  in  receiving  an  appointment  dragged  on  until 
the  war  with  Mexico  came  to  an  end  so  the  wish  for  mili 
tary  service  was  no  longer  desired.  Mr.  Wallace  did  not 
dream  that  when  he  penned  the  above  asking  in  jest  for  a 
Major  General's  commission  that  but  fifteen  years  later  in 
an  eminently  greater  battle  than  Buena  Vista  fought  in  his 
own  country  and  against  his  own  countrymen  he  would  be 
in  command  of  a  division  with  the  rank  of  a  Major  General. 

The  Mexican  war  was  the  school  that  trained  many  of 
the  great  generals  that  distinguished  themselves  in  the  Civil 
War,  Lee,  Grant,  Sherman,  Bragg,  Prentiss,  and  many 
others,  Lieutenants  in  one  war,  Generals  in  the  next. 

Mr.  Wallace  now  settled  in  Ottawa  and  returned  to  the 
practice  of  the  law,  becoming  a  strong  man  in  his  profession 
and  in  his  standing  and  influence  in  the  community. 

He  became  State's  Attorney  in  1852  of  the  Ninth  Judi 
cial  District,  then  embracing  three  or  four  counties,  filling 
this  rather  exacting  position  with  honor  and  ability  for  four 
years.  He  thus  became  widely  known.  Hon.  Wm.  Cullen 
in  speaking  of  him  as  a  lawyer  says:  "Having  chosen  the 

[60] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

law  as  his  profession  he  made  it  his  chief  study  and  he  held 
the  cause  of  his  clients  a  sacred  trust.  In  the  preparation 
and  trial  of  cases  he  gathered  in  all  the  law  applicable  to  the 
case  and  was  never  taken  by  surprise  by  the  opposing  coun 
sel.  Because  of  his  close  application  and  ability  ere  he  had 
practiced  one  decade  he  ranked  with  the  first  men  of  the 
bar  in  La  Salle  County  then  famed  for  the  many  able  lawy 
ers  it  embraced." 

Mr.  Wallace  was  a  devoted  member  of  the  Masonic  or 
der.  He  belonged  to  Occidental  Lodge  No.  40  of  Ottawa, 
and  was  Master  of  this  Lodge  during  the  years  1848  and 
1849.  The  first  charter  given  to  the  Ottawa  Lodge  was 
from  Kentucky  in  1840  with  the  number  114.  When  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois  was  organized  in  1841,  the  Ottawa 
Lodge  was  dissevered  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  Kentucky  and  because  part  of  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Illinois,  as  Occidental  Lodge  No.  40,  with  John  D.  Caton 
installed  as  Master.* 

*From  W.  L.  Milligan's  history  of  Occidental  Lodge,  No.  40. 


[61] 


CHAPTER  VIII. 
COURTSHIP  AND  MARRIAGE 

ON  MR.  WALLACE'S  return  from  Mexico  he  found 
little  Ann  Dickey  a  charming  girl  of  fifteen.  He  had 
been  as  an  elder  brother  in  the  home  of  Judge  Dickey, 
coming  and  going  as  an  esteemed  and  trusted  friend  of  the 
family.  He  always  took  much  interest  in  the  bright  little 
girl,  often  guiding  her  in  her  choice  of  books  and  in  many 
ways  forming  her  tastes  in  conformity  to  his  own.  She  was 
of  a  cheerful,  happy  disposition,  ready  for  fun  and  frolic 
and  light  as  a  fawn  to  run ;  fearless  in  sports,  riding  the  pet 
ponies  bare  back.  But  as  the  eldest  child  with  an  invalid 
mother  many  duties  also  developed  upon  her  which  she  bore 
as  cheerfully  and  happily  as  she  played,  displaying  wisdom 
and  judgment  beyond  her  years. 

Her  father,  Judge  T.  Lyle  Dickey,  was  one  of  the  great 
lawyers  of  the  Illinois  bar.  He  was  for  four  years  a  Cir 
cuit  Judge,  which,  in  the  early  fifties,  comprised  ten  or 
twelve  counties.  In  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  one  of 
the  Supreme  Judges  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  As  a  judge  he 
was  noted  "for  the  clearness  of  his  discrimination  and  the 
facility  with  which  he  grasped  the  real  points  of  a  case ;  the 
absolute  integrity  which  guided  his  decisions,  and  also  the 
absolute  freedom  from  personal  feelings  or  partisan  bias  in 
the  discussion  or  consideration  of  legal  questions.  His  mind 
was  essentially  judicial.  It  seemed  to  be  always  in  perfect 
equipoise." 

As  his  friend  Judge  J.  S.  Ewing  said  of  him :  "He  was 
brave,  generous,  courteous  and  kind.  He  never  betrayed  a 
cause  or  a  friend.  He  spoke  kindly  to  the  poor,  sympa 
thized  with  distress,  was  generous  to  a  fault.  There  was 
no  false  pride  born  of  accidental  position.  Can  I  tell  of  his 
fidelity  to  his  friends,  his  urbane  and  pleasant  manners,  his 
hatred  and  scorn  of  wrong,  his  delicate  and  knighdy  sense 
or  honor,  his  integrity  of  character,  which  made  up  a 
rounded  and  beautiful  character  to  be  loved,  admired  and 

[62] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

honored.  He  lived  with  great  men  and  was  not  dwarfed  in 
their  presence.  He  was  a  man  of  thought  and  action.  He 
lived  amidst  the  stirring  times  of  a  great  era,  and  he  thought 
out  its  problems  and  acted  with  its  men.  His  life  was  a 
success  measured  by  all  the  standards  of  human  action." 

He  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestry,  a  Kentuckian  by  birth, 
inheriting  the  generous  impulses  of  her  sons.  Hospitality 
was  to  him  what  it  was  in  the  south  in  ante-bellum  days, 
and  in  a  new  western  country  was  as  freely  given.  The 
Dickey  home  on  the  north  bluff  in  Ottawa  was  always  open 
to  friends  from  far  and  near.  When  court  was  in  session 
Judge  Dickey  usually  had  eight  or  ten  of  his  lawyers  friends 
as  guests  at  his  home.  Abraham  Lincoln  many  times  en 
joyed  this  hospitable  roof ;  also  many  other  eminent  lawyers 
of  the  state. 

Judge  Dickey  was  but  twenty  years  old  when  he  married. 
His  wife,  Juliet  Evans,  of  Ohio,  was  about  the  same  age. 
For  a  time  he  taught  school  in  Kentucky, — then  moved  to 
Illinois  in  1834,  he  with  his  wife  and  year  old  baby  Ann 
making  the  journey  on  horse  back.  Thus  little  Ann  began 
her  travels  very  early  in  life.  Judge  Dickey  first  essayed  a 
business  career,  but  soon  abandoned  it  and  studied  law, 
making  that  his  life  work. 

When  Ann  Dickey  was  sixteen  Mr.  Wallace  told  her  of 
his  love,  which  astonished  her  very  much,  as  she  had 
thought  of  him  more  as  her  father's  friend  than  as  her  own, 
but  when  she  communed  with  her  own  heart  she  found  she 
had  loved  him  unconsciously,  although  she  knew  she  had  al 
ways  had  great  esteem  and  high  respect  for  him. 

Not  long  before  their  marriage  Mr.  Wallace's  name  came 
up  for  nomination  to  Congress  at  the  Whig  convention  at 
Joliet  in  1850.  The  other  Whig  nominee  outdistanced  him 
in  votes,  but  was  defeated  in  the  election  by  the  Democratic 
candidate.  In  a  letter  from  Mr.  Wallace  to  Miss  Dickey  at 
this  time  he  says :  "You  heard  your  father  speaking  of  the 
proposition  to  make  me  a  candidate  for  Congress.  I  hope 
for  your  sake  it  may  succeed.  *  *  *  I  own  that  I  am 
somewhat  ambitious, — that  to  be  known  and  distinguished 
has  its  charm  for  me, — that  to  be  placed  in  a  position  where 
I  might  wield  an  influence  for  myself  and  friends  would  be 

[63] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

gratifying, — that  I  occasionally  indulge  in  day  dreams 
which  are  touched  with  a  tinge  of  the  magnificent, — but, 
Ann,  if  all  this  fancied  distinction  and  influence  were  to  be 
purchased  at  the  price  of  one  pang  to  you,  or  were  offered 
in  exchange  for  one  moment  of  your  dear  love,  it  would  be 
found  like  those  men  mentioned  in  the  Scriptures  who  were 
'weighed  in  the  balance  and  found  wanting.'  " 

In  February,  1851,  the  wedding  occurred  after  a  two 
years'  engagement,  when  the  bride  was  scarcely  eighteen 
years  of  age,  and  the  groom  twenty-nine.  Their  wedding 
journey  was  a  trip  to  Chicago.  As  there  was  no  railroad  at 
that  time  through  Ottawa,  they  went  to  Aurora  by  carriage 
and  from  there  by  rail. 

They  soon  went  to  housekeeping  in  their  own  little  home, 
as  the  young  wife  said :  "What  a  proud  happy  child  I  was ! 
To  me  he  was  all  that  was  greatest,  best,  truest  and  most 
tender  in  the  world, — and  this  had  come  to  me  and  I  was 
part  of  it.  Years  of  pain  and  ill  health  came  to  me,  but 
never  an  unhappy  moment,  for  every  hour  of  pain  dis 
closed  to  me  the  wealth  of  love,  sympathy  and  self-sacrifice 
that  lived  for  me  in  that  great  heart."  During  all  their 
eleven  years  of  wedded  life  never  an  impatient  or  unkind 
word  passed  the  husband's  lips. 

Mrs.  Wallace  was  brought  up  a  Presbyterian,  the  Dickey 
family,  far  and  near,  also  being  of  that  religious  connec 
tion.  Her  grandfather  was  James  H.  Dickey,  a  Presby 
terian  minister,  widely  and  favorably  known  in  central  Il 
linois  for  his  superior  ability  and  worth.  When  Mrs.  Wal 
lace  was  sixteen  she  heard,  for  the  first  time,  an  Episco 
palian  service,  which  appealed  to  her  very  devout  religious 
nature.  She  from  that  time  studied  into  the  tenets  of  that 
church  and  later  became  a  very  earnest  and  devoted  mem 
ber. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  brought  up  a  Methodist,  but  always 
attended  the  Episcopal  church  with  his  wife,  although  he 
never  became  a  communicant,  but  probably  would  have 
done  so  had  his  life  been  spared. 

Mr.  Wallace,  in  his  extensive  law  practice,  was  much 
away  from  home.  In  February,  1854,  he  writes:  "Al 
though  in  traveling  I  see  a  great  many  women  I  see  none 

[64] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

that  can  compare  with  my  own  Ann.  The  knowledge,  ex 
perience  and  observation  I  have  in  the  world  but  makes  me 
love  you  the  more,  and  the  more  highly  appreciate  the 
blessing  I  enjoy  in  such  a  wife  as  you  are  to  me.  God 
bless  you,  Ann,  and  may  He  long  spare  us  both  to  be  a 
comfort  and  happiness  to  one  another." 

In  the  summer  of  1854,  Mrs.  Wallace,  not  being  very 
well,  they  concluded  to  take  a  trip  east.  They  went  from 
Chicago  to  Detroit,  thence  by  boat  to  Buffalo,  thence  to 
Montreal.  Mr.  Wallace  writes  from  there  to  Judge 
Dickey:  "We  reached  here  last  evening  after  a  delightful 
run  down  Lake  Ontario  and  the  St.  Lawrence  rapids.  This 
is  a  great  city,  beautifully  located.  We  have  abandoned  the 
idea  of  going  further  down  the  St.  Lawrence  and  will  start 
at  5  o'clock  for  Lake  Champlain  and  Lake  George." 

From  Albany  they  took  a  Hudson  river  steamboat  for 
New  York,  where  occurred  what  might  have  been  a  tragic 
ending  to  their  pleasant  trip.  They  were  just  leaving  the 
boat  at  the  wharf,  Mrs.  Wallace  was  on  the  gang  plank, 
Mr.  Wallace  still  on  the  boat,  when  the  plank  slipped  from 
its  moorings  on  the  wharf,  throwing  all  those  that  were  on 
it  into  the  salt  water  twenty  feet  deep.  Mrs.  Wallace 
was  thrown  some  distance.  The  instant  she  was  thrown  in 
Mr.  Wallace  took  off  his  coat,  watched  where  she  came  up. 
jumped  into  the  water  and  swam  to  her. 

When  she  found  herself  in  the  water,  she  remembered 
what  she  had  learned  at  school,  that  when  in  the  water,  if 
the  arms  and  limbs  can  be  kept  under  the  face  will  float. 
With  perfect  calmness  and  self  possession  she  did  this. 
She  said  afterwards  her  entire  life  came  to  her — she 
thought  she  would  of  course  drown,  but  experienced  no 
fear  of  death. 

Mr.  Wallace,  as  he  swam  to  her,  feared  she  might  grab 
him,  and  said  to  her,  "steady  Ann."  She  answered,  "I 
am  steady."  He  took  hold  of  her  and  swam  to  a  boat, 
clinging  to  it  until  a  small  boat  came  to  their  rescue.  While 
they  were  still  in  the  water,  Mr.  Wallace  said,  "Ann  took 
it  very  cool,  remarking  it  was  her  first  introduction  to  salt 
water." 

From  New  York  they  went  to  Philadelphia  and  Boston. 

[65] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

On  their  way  home  to  Illinois  Mrs.  Wallace  stopped  in 
Ohio  for  a  visit  among  relatives  there.  From  there  she 
writes  to  her  husband  in  September:  "I  long  to  put  my 
loving  arms  around  your  neck  and  then  feel  in  return  your 
strong,  kind  arms  drawing  me  closer  and  closer  to  your 
warm  heart,  those  dear  arms  that  saved  me  from  the  wa 
ter,  and  the  brave  heart  that  prompted  the  fearful  leap. 
Dearest,  the  more  I  think  of  that  frightful  incident,  the 
more  I  appreciate  your  great  love  for  me,  and  the  more  I 
thank  my  Heavenly  Father  for  giving  me  such  a  husband. 
May  He  put  it  into  my  heart  to  be  a  better  wife  to  you 
than  I  have  ever  been  before.  I  can  not  love  you  more, 
but  I  may  be  more  useful.  I  am  coming  to  you  the  first 
opportunity  of  company  that  I  have.  The  day  that  we  are 
both  home  together  will  be  one  of  the  happy  days  of  my 
life.  All  the  days  will  be  long  until  that  one  comes." 

Mr.  Wallace,  who  had  returned  home  to  Ottawa,  writes 
to  his  wife  about  the  same  time:  "I  went  to  see  Mrs.  N — 
this  afternoon.  She  had  heard  the  story  of  your  fall  in  the 
water  at  New  York  and  had  a  hundred  questions  to  ask 
about  it.  She  said  when  I  told  her  of  your  putting  your 
hands  behind  you  and  holding  your  face  up  and  how  you 
came  to  think  of  it— "God  told  her."  Our  little  home  is 
still  all  right  except  you,  its  soul  and  life.  How  do  you 
bear  up  under  our  separation,  dearest  ?  I  find  it  harder 
than  I  supposed.  I  find  myself  constantly  thinking  of  you. 
I  believe  I  have  reviewed  again  and  again  every  moment 
of  our  happy  wedded  life  since  I  saw  you.  I  believe  I 
love  you  more  dearly  now,  Ann,  than  I  ever  did  before, 
and  more  fully  appreciate  and  prize  your  great  love  for 
me.  What  I  should  be  or  do  without  you,  God  in  heaven 
only  knows.  I  cannot  patiently  contemplate  the  possibility 
of  that  darkness  that  would  surround  me,  if  you,  the  light 
of  my  life,  were  extinguished.  Come  to  me,  Ann,  as  soon 
as  you  can.  I  feel  distrustful  of  circumstances,  having  so 
great  a  risk  upon  your  safe  return." 

Mrs.  Wallace  had  for  some  years  been  more  or  less 
troubled  with  rheumatism,  and  in  the  year  1857  it  was  so 
severe  as  to  make  her  almost  helpless,  and  Mr.  Wallace 
determined  to  take  her  to  Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  then  a 

[66] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

more  formidable  undertaking  than  at  the  present  day  with 
railroad  facilities.  As  Mrs.  Wallace  said,  "He  literally 
carried  me  in  his  arms  to  the  Hot  Springs  and  was  made 
happy  by  bringing  me  home  perfectly  restored." 

They  went  down  to  Cairo  by  rail,  then  by  boat  down  the 
Mississippi  and  up  the  Arkansas  river  to  Little  Rock,  tak 
ing  four  or  five  days,  then  going  by  stage-coach  and  car 
riage  over  sixty  miles  to  Hot  Springs,  over  rough,  stony 
roads,  stopping  for  the  night  in  a  log  cabin  in  the  woods. 

A  letter  from  Mr.  Wallace  to  Judge  Dickey  will  show 
the  primitiveness  of  the  Hot  Springs  of  that  period. 


,  14th,  1857. 

"There  are  two  houses  here,  or  rather  two  establish 
ments,  each  consisting  of  several  houses  —  one  is  called  the 
'Rector  House'  and  the  other  the  'Hale  House/  named 
after  rival  claimants  of  the  grounds  containing  the 
springs,  the  title  to  which  is  in  dispute.  They  are  situ 
ated  in  a  deep  hollow  between  two  steep  mountains  that 
rise  abruptly  to  a  height  of  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and 
are  covered  with  pines,  the  course  of  the  valley  is  from 
north  to  south,  and  the  hot  water  issues  from  the  mountain 
east  of  the  hollow  near  its  top  and  is  brought  down  in 
troughs  to  bathing  houses  near  the  hotels,  where  it  is  ap 
plied  by  pouring,  showering,  in  vapor,  —  in  the  ordinary 
way,  and  in  what  they  call  'mud  baths/  which  are  what 
their  name  imports,  mud  holes  in  which  the  patient  is  im 
mersed  to  the  throat.  There  are  several  springs,  differing 
somewhat  in  temperature  from  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  degrees,  and  also  differing  somewhat  in  their  anal 
ysis,  though  not  materially. 

"We  are  pleasantly  located  at  the  'Hale  House'  with 
a  large  comfortable  room  on  the  ground  floor;  the  bathing 
rooms  are  just  across  the  'branch.'  *  *  *  *  The  din 
ing  room  is  just  across  the  narrow  street  from  the  building 
in  which  we  have  our  quarters.  The  charge  for  board, 
lodging  and  bath,  thirty-five  dollars  a  month.  There  are 
about  a  dozen  ladies  here." 

Mr.  Wallace  left  his  wife  and  her  little  sister  at  the  Hot 
Springs  and  returned  to  Illinois.  In  Little  Rock  he  writes 

[67] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

about  meeting  Dr.  Borland,  whom  he  had  known  in  the 
Mexican  war  as  Major  of  the  Arkansas  regiment,  and  who 
was  spoken  of  earlier  in  this  narrative  as  being  captured  by 
the  Mexicans  surrounding  the  place  where  he  was  with 
some  eighty  men  one  dark,  rainy  night.  He  was  after 
wards  United  States  Senator  from  his  State. 

Mr.  Wallace,  in  a  letter  to  his  wife,  speaks  of  its  taking 
eleven  days  for  her  letter  to  come,  which  ought  to  have 
come  in  seven  or  eight.  He  says,  "If  our  separation,  pain 
ful  as  it  is  to  both  of  us,  results  in  the  realization  of  my 
dear  hope  that  you  will  be  permanently  restored  to  health, 
I  shall  feel  a  thankfulness  to  our  Heavenly  Father  such  as 
I  never  felt  before.  My  constant  prayer  to  Him  that  in 
His  wisdom  and  mercy  will  so  order  that  you  may  be  re 
stored  to  me  'whole  and  sound'." 

Mrs.  Wallace  remained  at  the  Hot  Springs  for  a  couple 
of  months,  when  her  husband  went  for  her,  bringing  her 
home  cured. 

An  amusing  letter  was  received  from  Mrs.  Wallace's 
young  brother  Cyrus,  who,  with  other  relatives,  was  at  the 
Wallace  home  in  Ottawa  during  her  absence.  It  gives  a 
little  glimpse  of  the  life  and  hospitality  of  the  little  cot 
tage  home. 

"OTTAWA,  July  2d,  1857. 

"Pa,  Mrs.  C —  and  baby  and  Philander  came  on  Tuesday 
and  went  on  to  Chicago  yesterday.  John  is  here,  also  Alice. 
Your  old  friends?  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S — ,  came  up  on  Tuesday 
and  made  us  a  visit  en  route  to  Morris — with  them  and 
father's  troupe  we  had  a  pretty  full  house,  but  got  along 
very  smoothly  saving  one  little  accident  which  I  must  tell 
you  of.  Mrs.  S — ,  being  quite  tired,  concluded  to  go  to  bed 
before  prayers,  and  being  of  an  economical  turn  of  mind, 
blew  out  the  gas  before  lying  down.  Meantime,  I  got  one 
of  Scott's  Bibles  with  copious  notes.  Mr.  S —  selected  a 
very  long  chapter  in  Romans  and  read  and  commented  on 
all  the  notes  as  he  went  along — then  offered  a  prayer  of  ex 
traordinary  length  and  breadth,  which  I  verily  believe  cov 
ered  everything  on  the  earth,  except  the  hole  from  which 
the  gas  was  escaping  in  the  bed  room.  But  it  finally  had  an 

[68] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

end,  and  if  the  window  in  the  bed-room  had  not  been  up,  I 
fear  the  old  lady  would  have  had  an  end  also." 


For  nine  years  they  lived  in  their  little  cottage  home  on 
"the  ridge"  in  Ottawa.  As  Mr.  Wallace's  fortunes  improved 
they  built  a  substantial  stone  house  on  the  bluff  adjoining 
the  Dickey  homestead. 


[69] 


CHAPTER  IX. 
DICKEY  AND  WALLACE  AGAINST  LOVEJOY  IN  1856  AND  1858. 

THE  year  1856  saw  marked  changes  in  political  par 
ties.  Slavery  was  the  great  question  that  held  all 
minds  and  the  line  that  divided  all  parties.  The 
Missouri  Compromise  bill  of  1820,  which  admitted  Missouri 
into  the  Union  as  a  slave  state  with  the  proviso  that  all 
states  formed  of  the  territory  west  and  northwest  should 
be  free,  was  thought  at  chat  time  to  have  quieted  the  slave 
question  indefinitely,  if  not  forever.  But  with  the  newly 
acquired  territory  from  the  Mexican  war  coming  into  the 
Union  as  States,  the  old  sore  was  opened  afresh,  especially 
when  the  Missouri  Compromise  was  repealed  in  1854  and 
the  Kansas-Nebraska  bill,  furthered  by  Stephen  A.  Doug 
las,  passed,  giving  new  States  the  option  of  framing  their 
own  constitutions  as  to  whether  they  should  be  free  or 
slave.  The  country  was  in  a  turmoil  and  the  halls  of  Con 
gress  rang  with  eloquent  and  angry  speeches  on  both  sides. 
The  people,  north  and  west,  were  no  less  loud  in  their  de 
nunciation  of  the  measure  which  opened  up  all  territories 
to  the  spread  of  slavery.  All  parties  felt  as  if  they  must 
unite  to  stem  this  evil,  and  the  Republican  party  came  into 
being  with  the  marked  object  of  excluding  slavery  from  the 
territories.  It  had  had  its  birth  in  a  small  way  in  Illinois 
in  1854,  but  was  gradually  growing  in  power  and  strength, 
absorbing  within  its  fold  Whigs,  Northern  Democrats, 
Free  Soil  and  Abolition  adherents.  In  1856  the  new  party 
nominated  their  first  Presidential  candidate  in  the  person 
of  John  C.  Fremont,  of  California. 

The  American,  or  Know  Nothing  Party,  put  up  Millard 
Fillmore.  This  party  was  a  secret  society  much  older  than 
the  Republican  party,  but  had  become  a  great  political  pow 
er.  Their  creed  was  "America  for  Americans,  non-inter 
ference  of  foreigners,  or  the  domination  of  Roman  Cath 
olicism  in  political  affairs."  The  A.  P.  A.  that  arose  a  de 
cade  or  two  later,  was  very  similar  in  its  tenents. 

[70] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

The  Democratic  party  put  up  James  Buchanan  of  Penn 
sylvania  for  President. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  a  Whig  until  this  year,  when  he  joined 
the  Republican  party.  He  was  a  member  of  the  conven 
tion  who  nominated  Fremont  for  the  Presidency  and  one 
of  the  committee  who  went  to  New  York  to  announce  to 
him  his  nomination.  The  following  letter  was  written  from 
Philadelphia  at  this  time  to  his  wife: 

"PHILADELPHIA,  THURSDAY,  June  19,  1856. 
"I  have  been  here  since  Sunday  and  have  been  very 
busy.  I  write  now  in  great  hurry.  We  have  just  concluded 
our  business  here  by  nominating  Colonel  Fremont  for  Pres 
ident  and  Wm.  L.  Dayton  of  New  Jersey  for  Vice-presi 
dent.  I  go  to  Washington  City  to-night  and  back  to  New 
York  to-morrow  night.  *  *  *  *  I  don't  feel  altogether 
satisfied  with  our  nominations  but  hope  for  the  best.  I 
think  of  you  often  and  sometimes  wish  you  were  here,  and 
again  am  glad  that  you  are  not.  The  houses  are  crowded 
— a  great  crowd  of  earnest,  excited  and  noisy  men." 

The  Democratic  nominee,  James  Buchanan,  won  the 
election,  which  put  the  slavery  element  in  power.  Kansas 
became  the  battle  ground  of  the  contending  factions  in 
Congressional  debates  no  less  than  on  the  actual  soil.  The 
slavery  element  desired  to  fill  the  territory  with  settlers 
from  the  South  to  predominate  in  the  vote  for  a  Constitu 
tion  favorable  to  slavery.  The  anti-slavery  or  Northern  ele 
ment  were  equally  anxious  to  bring  in  the  settlers  that 
would  make  it  a  free  state.  Hence,  battles,  murders  and 
ejections  of  settlers  ensued  between  the  warring  factions. 

Charles  Sumner  was  the  leader  of  the  Anti-Slavery 
cause  in  Congress,  and  Jefferson  Davis,  the  leader  of  the 
Southern  side.  The  great  men — Webster,  Calhoun  and 
Clay — were  dead,  who  had  made  the  halls  of  Congress  ring 
with  their  eloquence.  In  one  of  Sumner's  speeches  he  re 
flected  on  the  honor  of  a  Southern  member,  which  so  an 
gered  this  Southerner's  nephew  that  after  the  session  had 
closed,  he  assaulted  Sumner  in  his  seat  with  a  heavy  cane 
and  with  such  force  that  his  life  was  almost  despaired  of, 

[71] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

and  made  him  an  invalid  for  some  years,  so  he  could  not 
attend  to  his  duties  in  Congress.  This  assault  aroused  a 
strong  feeling  in  the  North.  It  was  taken  up  as  a  political 
question  and  not  merely  a  personal  one.  This  outrage,  ad 
ded  to  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  the  Dred 
Scott  case,  showing  that  the  highest  judicial  tribunal  in  the 
country  was  pro-slavery,  and  with  the  administration's  ef 
forts  to  force  Kansas  into  the  Union  with  a  constitution 
which  recognized  slavery,  begat  an  intense  feeling  in  the 
anti-slavery  element  that  aided  the  Abolition  party. 

This  party,  although  ultra  and  extreme  and  its  adher 
ents  hated  and  persecuted,  was  gaining  ground  and  receiv 
ing  more  favorable  and  intelligent  attention  as  the  think 
ing  men  were  coming  more  and  more  to  see  that  the  slavery 
question  was  disrupting  the  nation.  The  question  must 
be  solved  one  way  or  another. 

Although  the  Republicans  lost  on  the  Presidential  elec 
tion,  Illinois  went  Republican  throughout  in  the  State  tick 
et.  Owen  Love  joy,  a  Congregational  minister  of  Prince 
ton  and  a  rank  Abolotionist,  was  a  candidate  for  Congress 
in  the  Third  Congressional  District  on  the  Republican  tick 
et.  Congressional  appointments  were  very  important,  as  it 
was  on  the  floor  of  Congress  that  the  great  national  ques 
tions  were  being  battled  over  and  decided. 

The  desire  was  to  keep  a  balance  of  power  between  the 
adherents  of  slavery  and  those  against  its  non-extension 
so  as  to  give  neither  the  upper  hand. 

Scarcely  at  any  time  in  our  history  were  the  debates  and 
laws  passed  so  prominent,  so  important  and  absorbing  as 
the  decade  or  more  before  the  Civil  War.  So  to  be  sent 
to  Congress  in  those  days  was  no  small  honor  and  responsi 
bility. 

Lovejoy,  as  I.  N.  Arnold  says :  "Was  a  man  of  power 
ful  physique,  intense  feeling  and  of  great  magnetism  as  a 
speaker.  He  went  forth  like  Peter  the  Hermit,  with  a  heart 
of  fire,  a  tongue  of  lightning,  preaching  his  crusade  against 
slavery.  He  lived  to  see  slavery  die  amid  the  flames  of 
war  which  itself  had  kindled." 

His  intense  views  were  not  entertained  by  all  people  who 
might  admire  the  zeal  and  fearlessness  of  the  man,  but 

[72] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

thought  his  opinions  too  radical  for  the  times,  as  many 
favored  a  middle  course,  or  compromise,  in  hopes  that  time 
would  help  the  solution  of  the  vexed  question.  Many,  al 
though  not  favoring  slavery,  thought,  according  to  the  Con 
stitution,  the  Central  Government  could  not  interfere  with 
States'  rights.  Some  advocated  gradual  emancipation,  cer 
tainly  a  normal  and  fair  way  of  settlement. 

A  great  evil,  however,  sometimes  demands  fanatics  in 
the  beginning  to  educate  the  public  opinion  to  eradicate  it. 
Abolitionists,  with  the  powerful  aid  of  Mrs.  Stowe's  "Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin,"  published  in  1852,  did  much  to  hasten  open 
hostilities  between  the  adherents  of  slavery  and  those 
against  its  extension.  It  seemed  nothing  but  war  could 
finally  settle  it.  Pacific  measures  and  compromise  could 
only  for  a  time  stay  the  impending  rupture,  but  could  not 
stop  the  violent  current  rushing  on  to  civil  war. 

The  Republican  Congressional  Convention  met  at  Bloom- 
ington  on  July  15th  and  made  very  moderate  resolutions. 
"They  merely  denounced  the  Administration  for  its  course 
regarding  Kansas,  stigmatized  the  repeal  of  the  Missouri 
Compromise  as  an  act  of  bad  faith,  and  opposed  the  exten 
sion  of  slavery  into  the  territories."  Owen  Lovejoy  was 
put  in  nomination  for  the  Third  District.  Many  objected 
and  desired  another  candidate. 

An  anti-Love  joy  convention  was  held  in  Ottawa  on 
July  26th.  Delegates  were  in  attendance  from  McLean, 
DeWitt,  La  Salle,  Putnam  and  Vermillion  counties,  and  put 
Judge  Dickey  in  nomination.  An  interesting  account  of  this 
is  given  by  Judge  Dickey  in  a  letter  to  his  son  John,  which 
gives  a  clear  idea  of  the  middle  course  advocated  by  con 
servative  men. 

"CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS,  July  29th,  1856. 

"We  are  in  the  midst  of  a  political  tornado.  The  Con 
gressional  convention  of  Fremont  men  met  at  Ottawa  on  the 
2d  of  this  month  nominated  for  Congress  Rev.  Owen  Love- 
joy,  a  rank  old-fashioned  Abolitionist.  About  half  the  del 
egates  bolted  the  nomination  and  called  another  convention 
to  nominate  another  candidate  who  would  not  only  oppose 
the  introduction  of  slavery  into  Kansas,  but  would  at  the 
same  time  be  true  to  the  acknowledged  rights  of  the  South 

[73] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

under  the  Constitution,  embracing  their  right  to  recapture 
runaway  slaves — and  who  in  general  would  exercise  a  spirit 
of  fidelity  and  fraternity  to  the  people  of  the  South  and 
avoid  all  unnecessary  cause  of  difference.  That  convention 
put  me  in  nomination.  And  I  am  now  a  candidate  for  Con 
gress  in  the  midst  of  the  hurricane  preaching  peace,  frater 
nity  and  fidelity.  I  am  stemming  a  terrible  current  with 
out  any  reasonable  certainty  of  success." 

His  friend,  Judge  David  Davis  of  Bloomington,  real 
izing  the  fruitlessness  of  the  contest,  wrote  him  the  follow 
ing  very  vehement  letter,  which  gives  a  good  idea  of  the 
state  of  public  opinion  at  that  date : 

"BLOOMINGTON,  ILLINOIS,  July  18th,  1856. 
"DEAR  DICKEY: 

"I  think  so  much  of  you  and  have  your  interests  so  near 
my  heart  that  I  know  you  will  consider  this  letter  as  hav 
ing  been  written  with  the  best  of  motives  whether  the  con 
tents  harmonize  with  your  views  or  not. 

"I  did  not  dream  that  you  would  have  taken  the  nomina 
tion  for  Congress,  else  I  would  have  given  up  my  business 
in  Fayette  County  (where  I  was  on  Wednesday)  and  been 
present  at  Bloomington.  I  had  told  Gridley  that  with  the 
feeling  in  these  southern  counties  that  a  nomination  against 
Lovejoy  would  end  in  defeat.  The  readiness  with  which 
many  persons  support  Lovejoy  is  surprising.  It  probably 
can  be  accounted  for  for  several  reasons.  In  the  first  place 
— the  outrages  in  Kansas,  and  the  general  conduct  of  the 
Administration,  with  the  attack  on  Mr.  Sumner,  have  made 
Abolitionists  of  those  who  never  dreamed  they  were  drift 
ing  into  it.  These  principles  and  the  feelings  which  under 
lie  them  were  more  active  and  vigilant  than  the  feelings 
and  principles  which  you  and  I  entertain,  and  hence,  in  a 
very  great  measure  the  nomination  of  Lovejoy.  Many  men 
again  express  great  regrets  that  he  is  nominated,  but  think 
that  he  will  vote  right  on  the  question  of  the  extension  of 
slavery,  and  are  willing  that  he  should  vote  his  Abolition 
sentiments  in  other  respects  rather  than  send  a  Democrat 
to  Congress  who  will  vote  to  uphold  slavery  further. 

[74] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"A  third  class  think  he  was  fairly  nominated  and  should 
be  sustained.  Again,  many  would  vote  for  you  if  the  race 
was  between  you  and  Love  joy  alone  who  will  not  do  it  now, 
believing  that  Love  joy  is  regularly  nominated  and  is  the 
strongest.  Again,  there  are  another  class  of  people  who 
think  that  this  fusion  war  of  all  elements  and  whoever 
adopts  the  fusion  platform  should  be  voted  for,  no  matter 
how  wrong  the  other  sentiments  are. 

"Now,  my  dear  friend,  I  am  not  stating  these  things  by 
way  of  any  justification  for  those  who  act,  but  simply  as 
reasons  (unsatisfactory  to  us  as  they  may  be)  why  the  peo 
ple  are  predisposed  to  vote  for  Love  joy.  I  think  the  grand 
reason  after  all  is  that  his  views  and  opinions  are  becoming 
the  views  and  opinions  of  a  majority  of  the  people. 

"It  is  plain  that  the  elements  now  uniting  in  electing 
Colonel  Fremont  and  Colonel  Bissell  can't  coalesce  long 
They  will  have  one  feeling  in  common,  but  antipodes  in 
everything  else.  If  Kansas  gets  admitted  as  a  free  state 
the  party  is  ipse  facto  dissolved.  What  elements  will  unite 
in  the  formation  of  new  parties,  time  alone  can  determine. 
I  feel  an  all  abiding  faith  that  you  and  I  will  belong  to  the 
same  political  organization. 

"This  nomination  of  Lovejoy  deadens  enthusiasm,  dis 
pirits  and  causes  all  people  who  really  love  the  Union  of 
the  States  to  pause.  *  *  *  *  But  it  may  be  asked 
what  you  and  I  and  those  who  think  with  us  are  to  do. 
Simply  to  vote  in  this  canvass  for  those  we  can  conscien 
tiously  vote  for,  and  eschew  the  others.  *  *  *  *  We, 
the  old  Whig  party,  will  be  stricken  down  during  this  cam 
paign.  Had  we  not  better  bide  our  time,  brush  up  our 
armor  for  future  operations?  *  *  *  * 

"You  can  literally  do  nothing  in  these  southern  counties 
unless  by  a  thorough  and  systematic  canvass,  speaking  to 
be  done  in  every  precinct.  If  Osgood  was  out  of  the  way 
by  doing  this  Lovejoy  could  be  beaten. 

"To  do  all  these  things  would  require  great  labor  and 
great  expense  of  time  and  money.  The  labor  and  expense 
is  not  to  be  considered  where  success  is  likely  to  be  ob 
tained,  but  should  be  taken  into  the  account  when  success. 
is,  to  say  the  best,  problematical.  *  *  *  * 

[75] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"If  I  did  not  feel  a  deep  interest  in  whatever  concerns 
you  I  would  not  have  thus  written,  and  I  know  you  will 
consider  everything  as  well  meant.  Do  nothing  hastily,  but 
after  gathering  all  the  facts,  decide  according  to  the  very 
right  of  the  case.  Your  friend  as  ever, 

"DAVID  DAVIS/' 

Judge  Davis  wrote  to  Mr.  Wallace  the  following  day  in 
the  same  strain. 

"BLOOMINGTON,  ILLINOIS,  July  19,  1856. 
"Mv  DEAR  FRIEND: 

"I  have  written  a  long  letter  to  Judge  Dickey  and  sent 
by  this  mail.  I  know  that  he  will  be  beaten  and  that  it  is 
labor,  time  and  talents  wasted  in  making  this  race. 

I  did  not  dream  that  he  would  have  accepted  the  nomi 
nation,  else  I  would  have  foregone  my  business  and  been 
here.  Pray,  prevent  him  from  running. 

"Love joy  was  not  here  last  night,  but  I  am  told  that  the 
ratification  meeting  was  enthusiastic,  and  about  all  the  old 
Whig  lawyers  gave  in  their  adhesion  to  Love  joy.  *  *  * 
"I  want  Dickey  to  withdraw  before  he  gets  his  feelings  so 
aroused  that  he  would  continue  on  the  track  through  mere 
pride. 

"Excuse  the  earnestness  with  which  I  write.  *  *  *  * 
Read  the  letter  to  Dickey  if  he  is  out  of  town  and  you  will 
see  my  views  hastily  written  out. 

"I  wish  I  could  see  you  and  talk  with  you. 

"In  haste,  your  friend, 

"DAVID  DAVIS/' 

Judge  Davis  was  a  very  prominent  man  in  the  State  of 
Illinois ;  for  many  years  a  Circuit  Judge.  He  and  Lincoln 
rode  the  circuit  together.  Afterwards  he  was  a  judge  in  the 
United  States  Supreme  Court,  resigning  to  accept  a  seat 
in  the  Senate,  and  in  1877  was  a  possible  Presidential  nomi 
nee.  He  and  Judge  Dickey  were  very  warm  friends 
throughout  their  lives. 

On  September  13th  Judge  Dickey  withdrew  his  name  for 
Congressman  against  Love  joy,  who  was  elected  by  a  plu- 

[76] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

rality  of  six  thousand  votes  over  the  Democratic  candidate, 
Uri  Osgood. 

Judge  Dickey,  although  a  Southern  born  man,  did  not 
favor  the  extension  of  slavery.  He  inherited  slaves  him 
self,  but  freed  them,  although  at  the  time  he  was  heavily  in 
debt  through  signing  the  bond  of  a  dishonest  partner,  when 
the  money  he  might  have  received  from  the  sale  of  the 
slaves  would  have  been  most  acceptable. 

The  following  letter  from  S.  B.  Buckner  to  Mr.  Wallace 
is  interesting  historically  on  account  of  the  after  career  of 
General  Buckner,  and  also  showing  the  state  of  our  militia 
service  in  the  year  1857. 

''Simon  Bolivar  Buckner  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1823. 
He  served  in  the  Mexican  war  and  after  the  war  was  as 
sistant  instructor  of  infantry  tactics  at  West  Point.  He  re 
signed  and  went  to  Chicago  as  Superintendent  of  Construc 
tion  of  the  Custom  House  in  that  city.  While  there,  in 
1855,  he  was  made  Colonel  of  Volunteers  raised  in  Illinois 
in  that  year  for  the  Utah  expedition,  but  not  mustered  into 
service.  He  afterwards  practiced  law  in  Kentucky,  and  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War  entered  the  Southern  Army 
as  General.  At  Fort  Donelson  on  February  16th,  1862,  he 
surrendered  to  General  Grant  with  sixteen  thousand  men  as 
prisoners  of  war.  He  was  later  exchanged  and  made  Ma- 
jor-General,  and  was  in  the  Southern  service  till  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  afterwards  Governor  of  Kentucky." 

The  letter  reads : 

"CHICAGO,  January  10th,  1857. 
"MAJOR  : 

"I  have  been  casting  about  in  my  own  mind  for  some 
time  past  to  find  some  one  who,  while  he  would  accept  the 
office  of  Adjutant-General  of  the  State,  would  enter  upon 
the  duties  with  a  purpose  to  attend  to  them,  and  to  infuse 
some  life  into  our  military  system.  You  know  full  well  the 
entire  disuse  into  which  the  present  system  has  fallen  and 
the  dead  weight  which  those  who  feel  any  interest  in  mili 
tary  affairs  have  to  carry.  The  appointment  of  an  efficient 
Adjutant-General  would  strike  at  the  root  of  the  disease 

[77] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

which  so  extensively  pervades  the  military  body.  Support 
ed  as  he  would  be  by  a  soldier  for  the  Commander-in-Chief 
he  could  exert  an  influence  on  military  matters  which  has 
long  been  needed  and  without  which  no  life  can  be  felt  in 
the  extremities. 

"For  several  weeks  past,  it  has  been  my  purpose  to  sug 
gest  your  name  in  this  connection  to  Judge  Dickey.  I  have 
done  so  to-day,  and  it  has  been  after  conferring  with  him 
that  I  have  addressed  a  communication  to  Colonel  Bissell 
in  which  I  have  ventured  to  suggest  your  name  for  this  po 
sition.  It  may  appear  to  you  and  to  Colonel  Bissell,  with 
whom  I  have  only  a  slight  acquaintance,  an  act  of  vanity 
or  impertinent  assumption  on  my  part  to  recommend  for 
this  position  a  gentleman  so  much  more  widely  known  than 
myself,  but  I  have  been  actuated  by  a  desire  to  promote  the 
interests  of  the  military  of  the  State ;  and  under  the  suppo 
sition  that  it  probably  only  required  a  suggestion  of  your 
name  to  secure  your  appointment. 

"My  object  in  addressing  to  you  this  note  is  to  ask  you  to 
consent  to  take  charge  of  the  duties  of  the  office.  If  you 
do  so  it  will  have  to  be  on  your  part  a  labor  of  love.  The 
salary  is  merely  nominal,  only  $100.00  per  year,  but  I  trust 
you  will  consider  the  present  lamentable  condition  of  our 
military  affairs,  and  the  necessity  of  relieving  the  state 
from  the  odium  which  attaches  to  its  military  organization. 
No  time  is  more  propitious  to  introduce  a  reform.  With 
both  the  Governor  and  his  chief  executive  officer  partici 
pants  in  our  late  war  and  associated  with  the  state  troops 
in  service,  we  would  have  reason  to  expect  a  salutary 
change.  If  nothing  can  be  done  during  the  present  session 
of  the  Legislature  to  remodel  the  military,  you  could,  in 
conjunction  with  the  Governor,  perfect  by  the  meeting  of 
the  next  Legislature  a  system  whose  effects  might  be  bene 
ficially  transmitted  through  long  years  to  come  on  the  mili 
tary  institutions  of  the  State. 

"I  hope  you  will  take  this  matter  under  advisement  and 
for  the  benefit  of  those  of  us  who  take  an  interest  in  mili 
tary  affairs  and  desire  to  foster  a  military  spirit  amongst 
ourselves,  speedily  decide  to  accept  the  position.  If  you  do 
so,  cannot  you  meet  me  in  Springfield?  I  propose  to  go 

[78] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

there  on  Saturday  or  on  Sunday  night  to  remain  only  two 
or  three  days.  My  object  will  be  to  do  what  I  can  towards 
obtaining  a  revision  of  the  military  laws.  If  you  have  a 
little  time  to  devote  to  this  it  is  probable  something  may 
be  accomplished  even  during  the  present  legislature.  If  you 
cannot  meet  me,  please  address  me  a  letter  at  Springfield. 
With  much  regard,  I  am,  Major, 

"Very  respectfully  and  truly  yours, 

"S.  B.  BUCKNER." 

Mr.  Wallace  did  not  consider  the  matter  of  the  Adjutant 
Generalship,  and  did  not  accept  the  position  as  advised  by 
Major  Buckner.  Later  Major  Buckner,  himself,  became 
Adjutant-General  of  Illinois  Militia,  but  resigned  in  Decem 
ber  of  the  same  year. 

Colonel  William  H.  Bissell,  who  had  served  in  the  Mex 
ican  war,  became  Governor  of  Illinois  in  1857,  taking  the 

oath  of  office  on  January  12th. 

*         #         *         *         *         *         * 

Although  1858  was  not  a  Presidential  year,  it  is  a  me 
morable  one  in  Illinois  politics,  and  without  doubt  the  most 
famous  in  her  history  with  far  reaching  results.  The  con 
test  between  Judge  Douglas  and  Mr.  Lincoln  for  the  sen- 
atorship,  although  local,  brought  the  state  into  national  pol 
itics  and  fame  and  introduced  Abraham  Lincoln  to  the  en 
tire  country,  which  resulted  later  in  his  becoming  Presi 
dent. 

Stephen  A.  Douglas  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
best  known  men  in  the  country,  owing  to  his  many  years  in 
Congress,  first  as  a  Representative,  and  then  for  twelve 
years  a  Senator.  Abraham  Lincoln  was  a  country  lawyer, 
little  known  outside  his  state.  This  year  Douglas  was  run 
ning  for  re-election  to  his  seat  in  the  Senate  and  Lincoln 
was  contesting  the  place  with  him.  Douglas  was  a  Demo 
crat  and  was  the  man  who  introduced  the  famous  Kansas- 
Nebraska  Bill  into  Congress,  but  was  against  the  Buchanan 
or  Southern  element  of  the  party  who  wished  to  force  Kan 
sas  into  the  Union  with  a  constitution  favoring  slavery. 
Douglas  had  fought  this  issue  with  all  his  might  and  on  this 
platform  he  was  running,  so  he  had  the  split  in  his  own 

[79] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L  WALLACE 

party  to  contend  against  as  well  as  his  Republican  oppon 
ent.  Lincoln  was  running  on  a  purely  Republican  platform 
— "Non-extension  of  Slavery  into  the  Territories." 

On  the  16th  of  June  the  Republican  Convention  met  at 
Springfield  and  endorsed  Lincoln  as  their  choice  for  United 
States  Senator.  At  this  time  Lincoln  made  his  wonderful 
speech  that  began  his  fame  and  eventually  landed  him  in 
the  White  House.  It  was  the  few  opening  sentences  that 
were  so  effective  and  powerful  and  are  here  quoted:  "If 
we  could  first  know  where  we  are  and  whither  we  are  tend 
ing  we  could  then  better  judge  what  to  do,  and  how  to  do 
it.  We  are  now  far  into  the  fifth  year  since  a  policy  was 
initiated  with  the  avowed  object  and  confident  promise  of 
putting  an  end  to  the  slavery  agitation.  Under  the  opera 
tion  of  that  policy,  that  agitation  has  not  only  not  ceased, 
but  has  constantly  augmented.  In  my  opinion  it  will  not 
cease  until  a  crisis  shall  have  been  reached  and  passed.  A 
house  divided  against  itself  cannot  stand.  I  believe  this 
government  cannot  endure  permanently  half  slave  and  half 
free.  I  do  not  expect  the  Union  to  be  dissolved.  I  do  not 
expect  the  house  to  fall — but  I  do  expect  it  will  cease  to  be 
divided.  It  will  become  all  one  thing  or  all  the  other. 
Either  the  opponents  of  slavery  will  arrest  the  further 
spread  of  it,  and  place  it  where  the  public  mind  shall  rest  in 
the  belief  that  it  is  in  the  course  of  ultimate  extinction,  or, 
its  advocates  will  put  it  forward  till  it  shall  become  alike 
lawful  in  all  the  States,  old  as  well  as  new,  North  as  well 
as  South.  Have  we  no  tendency  to  the  latter  condition?" 
This  speech  made  a  profound  impression ;  some  said  it  was 
in  advance  of  the  times,  others  that  such  sentiments  would 
bring  on  civil  war.  Others  of  his  friends,  although  not  fav 
oring  the  extension  of  slavery,  urged  moderation  for  his 
own  good  and  that  of  his  party  and  not  to  make  such  ut 
terances  in  the  future.  Lincoln  was  far  seeing,  brave  and 
true,  with  patriotic  desire  for  the  well  being  of  his  country 
more  than  political  advancement  for  himself.  The  truth 
should  be  uttered  regardless  of  the  consequences  to  himself 
or  his  party. 

Leonard  Swett,  a  brilliant  lawyer  of  Illinois,  and  an 
astute  political  observer,  said:  "The  first  ten  lines  of  that 

[80] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

speech  defeated  him  for  the  Senate.  It  was  a  speech  made 
at  the  commencement  of  a  campaign  and  apparently  made 
for  the  campaign.  Viewing  it  in  this  light,  nothing  could 
have  been  more  unfortunate  or  inappropriate.  It  was  say 
ing  the  wrong  thing  first,  yet  he  saw  it  was  an  abstract 
truth,  and  standing  by  the  speech  would  ultimately  find  him 
in  the  right  place." 

Lincoln  challenged  Douglas  to  a  joint  debate  on  the  issues 
between  the  two  parties  which  was  accepted  by  the  great 
Senator,  and  seven  meeting  places  were  named — Ottawa, 
Freeport,  Jonesboro,  Charleston,  Galesburg,  Quincy  and 
Alton.  These  debates  attracted  the  attention  of  the  entire 
United  States  and  brought  thousands  within  the  hearing  of 
the  two  "intellectual  giants"  at  each  meeting. 

The  first  opened  at  Ottawa  on  August  21st  in  Washing 
ton  Square  in  the  middle  of  the  town  with  an  eager  and 
attentive  audience.  After  the  meeting  Douglass  walked 
away  almost  unattended  and  returned  to  his  hotel  nearby. 
Lincoln  was  carried,  under  his  protest,  on  the  shoulders  of 
his  enthusiastic  adherents  to  the  home  of  the  Mayor,  J.  O. 
Glover,  but  half  a  block  distant.  Here  he  had  to  make  a 
short  speech  to  the  gathered  crowd.  Mr.  Love  joy  was 
called  on  for  one  also,  then  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  closed  with  a 
few  remarks  and  the  crowd  dispersed. 

At  Freeport,  it  is  said,  the  questions  propounded  by  Mr. 
Lincoln  to  Judge  Douglas  and  his  answers  to  them  were  the 
causes  that  defeated  him  for  the  Presidency  in  1860,  as  in 
these  answers  Judge  Douglas  lost  the  support  of  the  South 
which  divided  the  Democratic  party  and  gave  the  Presi 
dency  to  the  Republicans. 

Politics  all  along  the  line  from  the  Senatorship  down 
was  very  spirited  in  the  State  this  year.  Owen  Love  joy 
was  up  for  re-election  for  Congressman,  and  while  still  in 
Washington  sent  letters  broadcast  to  his  constituents  in  the 
district.  He  still  had  many  opponents,  although  his  aboli 
tion  principles  were  gaining  ground.  Mr.  Wallace  was  de 
sired  by  his  friends  to  run  against  him  for  the  Republican 
nomination,  and  some  letters  are  here  given  on  the  subject 
and  also  to  show  the  political  feelings  of  the  day  on  the 
other  stirring  questions.  Judge  Champlain,  a  prominent 

[81] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

lawyer  of  Ottawa  and  later  law  partner  of  Mr.  Wallace, 
writes  the  following  letter : 

"OTTAWA,  June  4,  1858. 
"DEAR  SIR: 

"The  time  is  at  hand  when  delegates  are  to  be  elected  to 
the  State  Convention  at  Springfield  and  to  the  Congression 
al  Convention  at  Joliet,  and  I  think  a  good  deal  depends 
upon  the  wisdom  with  which  the  delegates  are  selected. 

"My  own  opinion  is  that  this  State  was  lost  to  Fremont 
by  the  Congressional  nomination  made  in  this  and  the  Chi 
cago  districts  in  1856,  and  if  the  same  course  is  pursued 
again  I  believe  it  will  be  attended  with  the  same  result.  I 
entertain  no  doubt  that  the  Congressional  nominations  now 
to  be  made  ought  by  every  consideration  of  justice  as  well 
as  wisdom,  to  be  from  either  the  Conservative  Whig  or 
Democratic  portion  of  the  Republican  party,  and  I  believe 
this  opinion  to  be  shared  in  by  the  great  majority  of  the 
party.  But  it  will  take  some  exertion  to  secure  this  result 
and  hence,  I  write  to  you  that  if  you  see  fit  you  may  use 
such  exertions  as  you  think  best  to  secure  a  right  coming  out 
of  this  matter. 

"So  far  as  public  sentiment  in  this  region  of  the  district 
is  concerned  I  know  it  to  be  decidedly  favorable  to  the  se 
lection  of  Mr.  Wallace  as  the  next  Republican  candidate 
for  Congress,  and  I  believe  it  to  be  so  to  a  considerable  ex 
tent  in  other  parts  of  the  district.  I  also  know  that  Mr. 
Wallace  possesses  every  quality  that  is  requisite  to  fill  the 
station  with  honor  to  himself,  his  friends  and  his  country. 

"Should  these  views  meet  your  approbation  you  are  at 
liberty  to  show  this  letter  to  such  of  your  friends  as  you  see 
fit,  especially  Mr.  Henning  and  Mr.  Wheeler. 

"Truly  yours, 

"J.  C.  CHAMPLAIN/' 

Love  joy  was  very  active  and  aggressive  in  his  canvass 
for  renomination  at  the  Congressional  Convention  to  be 
held  at  Joliet  on  June  30th.  A  letter  to  Mr.  Wallace  from 
Mr.  A.  Wardlaw  of  Granville,  Putnam  County,  on  May 
5th,  says : 

"I  understand  that  Lovejoy  is  busy  writing  letters  home 

[82] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

to  his  friends  urging  them  to  see  to  his  interests.  I  had  the 
reading  of  one  and  saw  several  others.  The  one  I  saw 
stated  that  he  understood  that  there  were  efforts  being 
made  in  the  district  to  defeat  him  in  the  convention  by  call 
ing  mass  meetings  and  making  it  inconvenient  for  his 
friends  to  attend,  and  saying  they  ought  to  have  meetings  in 
the  different  towns  and  send  delegates  to  attend  the  con 
vention  at  Joliet." 

A  letter  to  Judge  Dickey  from  C.  H.  Moore  of  Clinton, 
DeWitt  County,  on  June  5th,  speaking  in  the  same  strain, 

says : 

"I  saw  a  letter  from  Love  joy  yesterday  complaining  of 
the  course  taken,  that  the  primary  meetings  were  called  too 
soon.  He  wanted  them  delayed  until  he  could  get  home 
and  see  the  people.  Our  delegates  to  Joliet  are  Jno.  War 
ren,  C.  P.  Ford,  L.  Welden  and  C.  H.  Moore.  I  am  the 
most  of  a  Love  joy  man  amongst  them.  There  is  no  possible 
contingency  that  I  can  conceive  of  in  which  the  delegation 
from  this  county  will  vote  for  Love  joy  in  the  convention. 
Our  choice  is  Judge  Davis.  Our  delegation  will  do  its  best 
for  him.  If  it  is  impossible  to  nominate  him,  we  will  do  the 
next  best  thing  to  defeat  Love  joy.  As  against  any  man 
north  of  the  Illinois  river,  Mr.  Wallace,  I  think,  can  rely 
upon  this  county.  I  suppose  there  will  be  but  three  candi 
dates,  Mr.  Wallace,  Davis  and  Lovejoy — Swett,  I  have 
not  heard  spoken  of." 

From  Pontiac,  Livingston  County,  Mr.  Wallace  received 
a  letter  in  the  same  strain  from  Josh  Whitmore,  a  lawyer 
there,  on  June  5th : 

"We  are  thrashed  out  completely.  You  never  saw  Abol 
itionists  flock  out  so  in  your  life.  Lovejoy  has  sent  confi 
dential  letters  stereotyped  to  every  Abolitionist  in  the  coun 
ty  and  probably  in  the  district.  I  saw  one  day  before  yes 
terday,  an  appeal  to  the  Sympathisers  and  Abolitionists; 
every  one  of  them  turned  out  to  the  rescue.  I  am  not  only 
mad,  but  tired  of  this  Nigger  Worshipping.  If  Lovejoy  is 

[83] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

to  be  the  nominee,  I  am  ready  to  vote  for  a  Douglas  Demo 
crat.  I  have  seen  some  gentlemen  from  DeWitt,  Vermillion 
and  Champaign  Counties  who  say  Lovejoy  will  carry  all  of 
them  certain.  Davis  is  going  to  have  all  he  can  attend  to  to 
carry  McLean  County.  I  speak  advisedly,  I  think.  I  shall 
be  in  Joliet  on  the  30th  at  all  events,  and  in  the  event  that 
Davis  comes  in  strongly  posted  you  will  get  the  Livingston 
delegates,  but  not  if  there  is  any  chance  for  Lovejoy." 

Mr.  Wallace  received  a  letter  from  Judge  Davis  a  couple 
of  days  later  telling  of  affairs  in  McLean  County : 

"BLOOMINGTON,  June  7,  1858. 

"DEAR  WALLACE: — Hill  Lamon  is  just  starting  to  Joliet 
and  Ottawa,  to  inform  you  of  result  and  causes  of  it  for  our 
failure,  and  I  can  write  but  a  word.  I  knew  ten  days  ago 
that  the  result  was  inevitable.  My  friends,  however, 
thought  otherwise.  The  Mass  Convention  was  unfor 
tunate  and  the  weather  and  roads  conspired  to  defeat 
us.  The  main  argument  used  for  Lovejoy  was  that  he  was 
entitled  to  a  second  nomination.  Again  they  harped  greatly 
upon  the  fact  that  I  did  not  vote  for  Lovejoy. 

"The  Abolition  element  is  successful  here  and  very  pro- 
scriptive.  They  are  entirely  in  the  ascendency.  The  dele 
gates  from  here  are  more  abolitionized  than  any  you  will 
have  at  Joliet.  The  truth  is  that  the  county  is  for  Lovejoy. 
The  Whig  part  of  the  Republican  party  is  proscribed.  I 
don't  think  this  county  could  have  been  saved. 

"Is  there  any  hope  ?  The  DeWitt  delegates  are  appointed 
and  are  true.  I  don't  believe  that  Champaign  and  Vermil 
lion  can  be  saved.  Consult  with  Hill  and  see  what  you  want 
done. 

"If  it  was  not  for  saving  Lincoln  for  United  States  Sen 
ate  a  pretty  great  outbreak  would  follow.  I  don't  believe 
Lovejoy  can  be  beaten  if  nominated  and  there  is  no  use  of 
bolting.  Remember  me  to  Dickey.  "Your  friend. 

D.  DAVIS." 

On  June  9th  the  La  Salle  County  Republican  convention 
met  at  Ottawa  to  elect  delegates  for  the  convention  at 

[84] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Joliet;  as  the  Ottawa  Republican  newspaper  of  that  date 
says:  "Mr.  Wallace's  name  was  withdrawn.  Many  per 
sonal  friends  of  Mr.  Wallace  would  like  to  have  had  the 
privilege  of  sending  him  to  Congress.  In  this  they  were 
not  actuated  by  hostility  to  Mr.  Love  joy.  When  they 
found  the  majority  was  for  returning  Mr.  Love  joy  for  an 
other  term,  Mr.  Wallace's  claims  were  pressed  no  further. 
The  friends  of  Judge  Davis  have  also  withdrawn  his  name 
from  the  canvass." 

The  Ottawa  Free  Trader,  speaking  of  the  Joliet  conven 
tion  on  the  30th  of  June,  says :  "Old  Whigs,  notwithstand 
ing  they  comprise  two-thirds  of  the  party,  are  not  allowed 
a  voice  in  the  convention.  They  are  the  complete  slaves  of 
such  men  as  Lovejoy,  Wentworth,  Dyer  and  Hawley." 
Love  joy  was  elected  by  seven  thousand  votes  over  the 
Democratic  nominee,  George  W.  Armstrong. 

The  elections  to  the  Illinois  Legislature  were  important, 
as  the  legislators  had  in  their  hands  the  electing  of  the 
United  States  Senators.  Even  in  this  year  politicians  were 
looking  ahead  to  a  time  when  Lovejoy  might  run  for  United 
States  Senate  and  desired  his  defeat,  as  is  shown  in  the  fol 
lowing  letter  to  Mr.  Wallace  from  Mr.  A.  Wardlow  of 
Granville  on  September  8th : 

"The  Abolitionists  have  backed  down  and  have  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  it  is  perhaps  best  not  to  monopolize  all 
the  offices,  and  have  nominated  an  old  line  Whig  for  Rep 
resentative  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Geo.  C.  Bestor  of 
Peoria  for  the  State  Senate.  I  do  not  know  what  he  is,  but 
he  will  have  to  give  some  assurance  that  he  will  go  for  some 
other  man  than  Lovejoy,  for  the  Senate  in  1860,  at  the  end 
of  Trumbull's  time,  as  some  of  the  Abolitionists  have  said 
that  they  intend  for  him  to  go  into  the  Senate  in  Trumbull's 
place.  Consequently  he  will  have  to  come  out  on  that  or 
there  will  be  bolting.  He  will  not  be  required  to  pledge  for 
any  particular  man,  only  not  to  go  for  Lovejoy.  *  *  *  * 
The  Democrats  had  a  mass  meeting  in  Hennepin  last  Mon 
day  and  had  a  complete  blow  up.  The  Buchanan  men  left 
or  bolted  and  formed  another  organization;  consequently 
there  are  two  sets  of  delegates  appointed  to  all  the  conven- 

[85] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

tions,  one  set  instructed  to  go  for  Douglas,  the  other  in 
structed  to  go  for  no  man  who  will  support  Douglas  against 
the  Administration.  *  *  *  *  *  I  think  Douglas  is  losing 
ground  here  since  his  Freeport  speech,  and  the  Buchanan 
faction  are  gaining  and  the  wave  is  bitter  and  hot.  There 
is  no  chance  for  a  reconciliation  or  a  union  on  Douglas. 
The  only  chance  for  a  union  of  the  two  wings  is  to  drop 
Douglas  and  unite  on  some  one  else  and  I  have  no  idea  the 
Douglas  men  will  do  that." 

Regardless  of  the  bitter  dissension  in  his  own  party 
Douglas  won  the  election  in  the  Legislature  to  the  United 
States  Senate.  Owen  Love  joy  remained  in  Congress  until 
1864,  when  he  died — an  eloquent  and  honest  man  in  his 
convictions,  however  extreme. 


(86) 


CHAPTER  X. 

LINCOLN'S  NOMINATION  AND  THE  FEELING  IN  THE  COUN 
TRY  BEFORE  HIS  INAUGURATION. 

THE  slave  question  which  had  been  rumbling  for  so 
many  years  was  in  the  Presidential  contest  of  1860, 
the  only  issue  between  the  parties,  State's  sovere 
ignty,  or  each  State's  right  to  manage  its  own  affairs  with 
no  responsibility  to  a  central  union,  against  the  non-exten 
sion  of  slavery.  Four  parties  with  four  candidates  were 
in  the  field,  each  with  varying  shades  of  the  central  ques 
tion — Slavery. 

The  Republican  party,  now  growing  strong  in  its  'ad 
vocacy  of  the  evil  of  extending  the  bondage  of  human  be 
ings,  stood  on  its  original  platform  of  Non-Extension  of 
Slavery,  and  put  forward  Abraham  Lincoln  of  Illinois  as 
its  leader.  The  American  or  Know-Nothing  party  took  no 
decided  ground  on  the  slavery  question,  but  was  for  a  Con 
stitutional  Union,  nominated  John  Bell  of  Tennessee  as  its 
standard-bearer. 

The  Democratic  party  was  divided.  The  extreme  South 
ern  faction  headed  by  Jefferson  Davis  advocated  that  the 
Federal  Government  must  protect  slave  owners  whether  in 
free  or  slave  States  in  fact  that  no  restriction  of  slavery 
was  constitutional.  This  faction  nominated  John  C. 
Breckenridge  of  Kentucky.  The  other  wing  of  the  party, 
not  willing  to  squarely  affirm  this  doctrine,  ignored  it  and 
nominated  Stephen  A.  Douglas  of  Illinois,  the  advocate  of 
popular  sovereignty,  for  President.  The  real  contest  was 
between  Lincoln  and  Douglas,  although  owing  to  the  dis 
ruption  in  the  Democratic  party,  Douglas  did  not  carry  a 
single  state  electoral  vote,  but  his  personal  popularity  gave 
him  a  large  popular  vote. 

After  Lincoln  was  actually  elected  in  November,  and  the 
South  knew  that  a  Republican  President  would  be  at  the 
head  of  the  nation,  and  his  sympathizers  in  the  officers  of 
state,  even  if  in  Congress,  the  balance  of  power  was  still 

[87] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

with  the  Douglas  Democrats,  they  decided  to  secede  from 
the  Union  and  form  a  separate  Confederation  of  States 
that  would  uphold  the  system  of  slavery;  which  they  be 
lieved  to  be  necessary  to  the  industrial  well  being  of  the 
South  in  its  principal  industry  of  raising  cotton  and  sugar 
cane. 

On  the  17th  of  December,  South  Carolina  held  a  conven 
tion  and  decided  to  secede  from  the  Union.  By  the  first  of 
February  six  other  States  had  followed  suit  and  by  the 
eighth  of  the  same  month  delegates  from  the  seceded  States 
met  at  Montgomery,  Alabama,  and  formed  a  new  govern 
ment  with  the  name  of  the  Confederate  States  of  America, 
and  elected  Jefferson  Davis  as  President,  and  Alexander  H. 
Stephens  as  Vice-President. 

We  now  turn  to  Mr.  Wallace  and  his  affairs  with  some 
side  lights  on  these  great  questions  that  were  agitating  the 
entire  country. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  not  only  an  ardent  Republican,  but  an 
earnest  and  devoted  friend  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  so  that  it 
was  but  natural  that  all  his  sympathies  were  for  Lincoln 
for  President  for  which  he  worked  hard  and  earnestly. 
When  Lincoln  was  finally  nominated  in  the  memorable 
Chicago  Convention  of  the  16th  of  May,  1860,  strong  men 
embraced  one  another,  shouted  and  wept  for  joy.  Mr. 
Wallace  and  his  friend,  Leonard  Swett,  were  together.  So 
elated,  so  rejoiced  were  these  two  strong  earnest  men,  they 
threw  their  arms  around  one  another  in  the  exhuberance  of 
their  deep  feelings.  "Come,"  says  Wallace,  "let's  go  and 
buy  our  wives  some  new  dresses."  The  two  tall  men 
searched  for  the  latest  in  pretty  dress  goods  and  each  took 
the  gift  home  to  his  wife.  Mrs.  Wallace  called  hers  her 
"Lincoln  dress,"  which  is  still  kept  by  her  family  as  an  in 
teresting  relic. 

Mr.  Wallace's  father-in-law,  Judge  Dickey,  was  as  ard 
ent  a  Democrat  and  Douglas  man  as  Mr.  Wallace  was  a 
Lincoln  man — politics  could  naturally  never  be  discussed 
between  them.  When,  however,  Judge  Dickey  found  Doug- 
las'  chances  for  election  out  of  the  question,  he  returned  to 
Ottawa,  went  directly  to  Mr.  Wallace's  house  in  the  middle 
of  the  night  told  him  to  get  right  up  and  work  for  Lincoln. 

[88] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

His  love  of  country,  and  faith  in  the  integrity  and  ability  of 
Lincoln,  for  whom  he  had  a  strong  personal  friendship,  rose 
above  party  feeling. 

Judge  Dickey,  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Wallace,  and  a 
cousin,  Miss  G — ,went  to  Chicago  to  be  present  at  the  re 
ception  of  Douglas.  Miss  G — writes  a  letter  telling  of  their 
visit  and  also  speaks  of  Seward's  reception  in  Chicago  at 
this  time : 

"October  7,  1860.  We  arrived  in  Chicago  about  six  in 
the  evening,  put  up  at  the  Tremont,  and  as  soon  as  we  got 
our  supper  we  got  a  place  out  on  one  of  the  balconies  to  see 
the  reception  of  Seward.  The  reception  was  on  Lake 
Screet,  the  whole  house  was  illuminated  with  various 
colored  lamps,  two  on  Lake  and  two  on  Dearborn ;  also  two 
large  stars  made  of  large  glass  beads  and  fixed  in  evergreen 
with  gas  behind  in  shape  of  a  star,  two  on  each  balcony. 

"The  street  in  front  of  the  hotel  was  crowded  with  peo 
ple.  About  eight  o'clock  the  procession  came  up  with  Gov 
ernor  Seward.  A  company  called  Lincoln  Rangers, 
mounted  on  horses,  went  to  the  depot  to  meet  him.  Then 
such  a  sight  of  torches  as  there  were  I  never  expect  to  see 
again.  The  crowd  was  remarkably  silent.  After  Seward 
had  eaten  his  supper  he  came  out  onto  one  of  the  balconies 
and  made  a  short  speech  and  then  others  spoke.  Long  John 
(Wentworth)  came  out  to  introduce  Seward  and  made 
quite  a  lengthy  speech.  He  said  here  was  the  man  who 
would  rather  be  in  the  right  than  be  President,  as  much  as 
to  say  that  Lincoln  was  not  in  the  right.  He  said  something 
about  Seward  not  being  an  office  seeker,  which  made  the 
people  laugh  a  good  deal.  They  don't  seem  to  think  much 
of  Long  John  the  way  they  laughed  at  him. 

"Tuesday  morning  there  did  not  seem  much  going  on,  but 
the  Wideawakes  marching  from  one  street  to  another  with 
bands  of  music.  About  one  o'clock  a  large  crowd  assembled 
around  the  Tremont  to  escort  Seward  down  to  the  wigwam 
to  speak.  By  the  way,  I  forgot  to  tell  you  that  I  saw  Lady 
Franklin  Monday  night;  she  was  out  on  the  balcony  when 
Seward  spoke.  She  is  a  fine  looking  old  lady.  After  Sew 
ard  had  left  we  all  went  down  to  the  speaking,  we  could 

[89] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

not  get  near  enough  to  Seward  to  hear  him ;  he  was  speak 
ing  out  doors.  We  went  into  the  wigwam  and  found  out 
that  Lovejoy  was  to  speak,  so  we  stayed  and  listened  awhile 
to  him,  then  went  back  to  the  hotel  where  we  met  a  great 
many  of  Cousin  Ann's  friends.  We  stationed  ourselves 
again  on  the  balcony  to  see  the  Wideawakes. 

"Wednesday  evening  we  went  to  the  theatre  and  heard 
the  great  Irish  comedian,  Collins,  in  a  play  called  'Coleen 
Bawn' — the  scenery  was  fine. 

"Thursday  morning  we  went  up  to  call  on  Mrs.  Douglas. 
She  is  an  exceedingly  pleasant  lady  and  very  pretty.  Mrs. 
Swift  and  Mrs.  King  came  to  call  on  us  and  invited  us  there 
to  dinner.  We  went  about  four  o'clock  and  on  our  way 
called  on  Mrs  Judd.  We  got  home  from  Mrs.  Swift's 
about  7  o'clock.  About  ten  Douglas  came ;  there  was  an  im 
mense  crowd  collected  to  receive  him.  The  hotel  was  all 
illuminated  again  and  they  had  fixed  up  on  top  of  the  house, 
"Welcome,  Douglas,  Welcome  home,"  in  transparancies. 
Douglas  made  a  short  speech  that  night.  Cousin  Lyle 
(Judge  Dickey)  also  made  a  speech.  The  Douglas  Invin- 
cibles  were  out  with  their  torches  and  made  a  brilliant 
showing. 

"Friday  the  crowd  collected  around  the  Tremont  to  take 
Douglas  to  the  grounds  to  speak.  There  was  a  long  proces 
sion  of  Invincibles  to  escort  him.  He  rode  in  a  carriage 
drawn  by  four  white  horses  with  plumes.  And  stood  up 
with  his  hat  off  until  the  procession  had  mostly  passed, 
making  bows  to  the  people.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  start 
he  threw  a  kiss  to  Mrs.  Douglas." 

Popular  as  Douglas  was  personally,  his  cause  was  not 
the  cause  to  win.  Lincoln  stood  for  the  principle  that 
reached  the  heart  of  the  greater  number  of  the  American 
people  so  he  won  over  his  brilliant  rival. 

Mr.  Wallace  was  an  office  seeker  to  the  incoming  Presi 
dent,  as  the  following  will  testify — and  also  to  the  regard 
held  for  him  by  his  friends. 

"To  his  Excellency  Abraham  Lincoln : 
"The  undersigned  residents  of  La   Salle  County  mosc 
respectfully  and  yet  urgently  request  the  appointment  of 

[90] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Wm.  H.  L.  Wallace  as  United  States  District  Attorney  for 
the  Northern  District  of  Illinois,  for  the  reasons  following, 
viz: 

"ist.  We  have  the  most  unlimited  confidence  in  his  capa 
city  and  integrity  to  faithfully  and  promptly  discharge  the 
duties  of  said  office. 

"2d.  That  we  believe  that  a  majority  of  the  legal  voters 
of  this  district  anxiously  wish  for  and  respectfully  demand 
his  appointment  and  most  determinately  yet  unitedly  pro 
test  against  the  control  of  the  appointing  power  in  this  dis 
trict,  by  any  or  all  of  the  Congressional  Representatives  of 
Northern  Illinois. 

"3d.  And  we  hereby  again  protest  against  the  appoint 
ment  of  a  District  Attorney  from  the  County  of  Cook,  inas 
much  as  several  most  important  appointments  have  already 
been  bestowed  upon  residents  of  said  Cook  County.  While 
La  Salle  County  being  second  in  point  of  wealth  and  popu 
lation  in  our  state  has  been  entirely  overlooked  and  unre 
warded  by  federal  appointment." 

Then  follow  many  names  of  prominent  La  Salle  County 

:n. 

Judge  Davis  writes  Mr.  Wallace  on  the  same  topic. 

"BLOOMINGTON,  111.,  Dec.  27,  1860. 
W.  H.  L.  WALLACE,  ESQ., 

"MY  DEAR  SIR: — "I  wrote  to  Judge  Trumbull  in  your 
behalf  and  that  of  Mr.  Weldon  for  the  Southern  District. 
I  have  just  received  a  line  in  reply  and  will  give  you  all  of 
his  letter  referring  to  the  subject. 

"You  will  perceive  that  he  writes  cautiously.  He  says: 
'Personally  it  will  be  a  gratification  both  on  their  account 
and  to  conform  to  your  wishes,  if  I  am  so  circumstanced 
when  the  time  for  action  arrives  as  to  be  able  with  due  re 
gard  to  other  interests  to  favor  the  appointment  of  Messrs. 
Wallace  and  Weldon  to  the  places  they  seek  respectively. 
I  know  them  both  well  and  favorably/ 

"You  will  perceive  that  he  is  entirely  non-committal. 
The  above  is  all  he  wrote  on  the  subject. 

"I  am  not  without  hope  from  him.     If  I  can  serve  you 

[91] 


men. 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

any  further  in  the  matter,  besides  writing  to  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  seeing  him  personally,  let  me  know. 

"What  did  you  learn  at  Springfield?  Have  you  been  to 
Chicago  and  did  you  find  out  who  were  applicants  ? 

"With  the  compliments  of  the  incoming  year  to  Judge 
Dickey  and  Mrs.  Wallace,  I  am  your  friend, 

DAVID  DAVIS." 

From  Lacon  came  the  greetings  and  good  will  of  the 
friends  of  Mr.  Wallace  who  also  desired  his  appointment  to 
the  office. 

"LACON,  111.,  Feb.  22,  1861. 

"FRIEND  WALLACE: — "Learning  that  your  friends  were 
presenting  your  name  to  the  incoming  administration  for 
United  States  District  Attorney,  I  thought  I  would  send 
you  the  endorsement  of  our  leading  Republicans.  I  could 
have  got  a  thousand  names;  supposed  it  would  be  of  no  use 
to  do  so. 

"We  are  very  desirous  you  should  get  the  appointment 
and  would  do  anything  in  our  power  to  assist  you. 

"Not  having  heard  from  you  we  do  not  know  that  you 
wish  anything  of  the  kind,  but  we  thought  we  would  send 
our  mite  at  any  rate.  Respectfully, 

"G.  L.  FORT." 

From  Springfield  Mr.  Wallace  writes  his  wife  on 
January  11,  1861,  giving  a  glimpse  of  the  political  whirl  in 
this  State  and  the  cares  accumulating  around  Mr.  Lincoln 
even  before  his  inauguration. 

"There  is  a  great  crowd  of  people  here,  continually  com 
ing  and  going.  I  have  seen  a  great  many  of  the  most 
prominent  men  of  the  State.  I  have  been  so  much  occupied 
that  I  have  not  yet  gone  to  Jacksonville  and  don't  know 
that  I  shall  go  at  all.  Political  matters  are  continually 
changing  and  no  man  can  tell  in  this  turmoil  what  the  mor 
row  will  bring  forth.  The  cause  of  Major  Anderson  is 
generally  sustained  by  all  parties  here,  but  all  are  fearful  of 
the  result. 

"I  have  seen  Mr.  Lincoln  two  or  three  times  since  I  have 
been  here,  but  only  for  a  moment  and  he  is  continually  sur- 

[92] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

rounded  by  a  crowd  of  people.  He  has  a  world  of  responsi 
bility  and  seems  to  feel  it  and  to  be  oppressed  by  it.  He 
looks  careworn  and  more  haggard  and  stooped  than  I  ever 
saw  him.  *****  There  are  some  amusements  here — 
Mr.  Murdock  read  Hamlet  on  Tuesday  night,  a  very  fine 
treat.  On  Monday  night  I  went  on  Eaton's  (R.  E.  Goodell, 
son-in-law  of  Governor  Matteson)  invitation  and  spent  the 
evening  and  played  euchre  at  Governor  Matteson's  with 
Mrs.  Goodell  and  Mrs.  Maginnis." 

The  political  atmosphere  in  the  beginning  of  the  year 
1861  was  very  similar  to  the  physical  before  a  thunder 
storm.  Many  feared  the  Southern  States  would  secede  and 
disrupt  the  Union.  With  this  fear  was  the  feeling  by  the 
Federal  Government  of  doing  nothing  to  bring  on  a  crisis, 
hoping  matters  would  adjust  themselves  and  all  come  out 
right.  Even  strong  men  held  this  feeling.  After  Lincoln's 
election  the  South  was  more  open  in  her  threats  of  hostility 
toward  the  Central  Government  and  fears  were  entertained 
of  an  attack  on  Washington  City.  The  following  letter  of 
Mr.  Wallace  shows  something  of  the  feeling  of  conserva 
tive  and  loyal  men  at  this  juncture : 

"OTTAWA,  Jan.  16,  1861. 
"DR.  S.  A.  PADDOCK, 
"Princeton,  111. 

"DEAR  SIR: — Your  letter  of  the  3d  inst.  in  reference  to 
the  state  of  the  country  and  suggesting  the  raising  of  a  regi 
ment  to  be  offered  to  the  government  in  case  of  a  rebellious 
attack  on  Washington  City,  was  received  by  me  while  in 
Springfield.  The  rapid  course  of  events  which  every  day 
seemed  to  change  the  aspect  of  the  times,  with  a  press  of  pri 
vate  matters,  has  hitherto  delayed  my  answer. 

"There  was  a  time  not  long  since  when  it  seemed  to  me 
probable  that  those  having  charge  of  the  Government  would 
succeed  in  robbing  it  of  treasure  and  arms,  and  leave  it  an 
easy  prey  to  the  disunionists,  and  I  felt  that  under  that 
state  of  things  it  would  become  the  duty  of  the  States  who 
were  loyal  to  the  Federal  Government  to  step  forward  and 
by  timely  tender  of  men  and  means  save  the  Union  from  the 
hands  of  traitors.  That  danger,  I  am  happy  in  being  able 

[93] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

to  believe,  is  now  past,  and  with  it  the  necessity  of  extra 
ordinary  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  loyal  States.  The  Ad 
ministration  at  Washington,  inspired  by  General  Scott's 
patriotism,  wisdom  and  valor  now  seems  to  be  able  and 
willing  to  meet  and  successfully  repel  any  unlawful  attack 
on  the  Capital.  It  is  true  that  the  treason  of  South  Caro 
lina  seems  to  be  spreading  and  involving  other  States — they 
are  mustering  military  force  and  preparing  for  war.  But 
who  are  they  to  fight?  The  Federal  Government  may  con 
tent  itself  with  collecting  the  revenue  which  can  be  done 
only  by  naval  force,  to  which  the  disunionists  have  nothing 
to  oppose.  We  ought  not  to  force  upon  these  unwilling 
States  the  benefits  of  post  offices  or  courts  which  are  in 
tended  as  a  local  benefit.  So  for  all  the  practical  purposes 
of  enforcing  the  laws ;  no  military  beyond  the  regular  army 
to  garrison  a  few  forts  and  arsenals  are  needed.  With 
these  gangs  of  rampant  fire  eaters  living  upon  the  resources 
of  a  country  already  on  the  eve  of  starvation,  these  disloyal 
states  will  soon  find  themselves  in  the  position  that  history 
shows  to  be  the  fate  of  a  small  state  supporting  an  unem 
ployed  army.  The  military  leaders  will  soon  become  the 
most  obnoxious  and  abhorred  of  tyrants  and  before  many 
months  the  cry  will  come  up  to  the  Federal  Government  or 
to  the  people  of  the  loyal  States  from  all  men  having  mat 
erial  interests  in  the  seceding  States  to  be  saved  from  the 
hands  of  their  armed  mobs. 

"Opposition  or  the  show  of  opposition  on  the  part  of  the 
Northern  States  would  in  my  judgment  delay  this  event  and 
keep  up  the  spirit  which  has  lured  our  Southern  brethern 
into  their  present  position.  For  I  cannot,  Dr.,  notwith 
standing  the  wild,  insane  and  treasonable  course  they  have 
pursued,  as  yet  regard  these  people  in  the  light  of  foes. 
They  are  our  political  associates,  our  political  brethren, 
common  heirs  with  us  of  the  illustrious  sires  of  the  revolu 
tion.  We  are  stronger  than  they.  They  cannot  hurt  us  and 
we  ought  if  possible  to  prevent  them  from  hurting  them 
selves.  If  I  am  right  in  my  judgment  of  the  result,  and  I 
sincerely  hope  I  am,  what  a  magnificent  moral  spectacle 
would  be  presented  by  the  Northern  States,  loyal  to  the 
Union  as  our  fathers  made  it,  calm  amid  the  wild  storm  pur- 

[94] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

suing  the  even  tenor  of  their  way  without  being  provoked 
into  any  show  of  passion  by  the  threats  of  their  own  passion 
and  folly.  I  think  I  can  see  in  this  the  seeds  of  a  stronger 
and  more  fraternal  union  than  has  ever  existed  between  the 
North  and  the  South. 

"But  if  in  all  this  I  am  mistaken,  if  the  war  spirit  of  the 
South  should  seek  to  expend  itself  upon  us,  if  any  attack 
should  be  made  upon  the  seat  of  the  Federal  Government 
or  upon  any  of  the  loyal  States,  then  indeed  we  should  act 
and  act  promptly  and  with  vigor.  But  I  hope  for  better 
things. 

"You  will  readily  infer  from  these  views  that  I  am  dis 
inclined  in  the  present  posture  of  affairs  to  take  part  in  any 
extraordinary  military  organization,  which  might  appear 
like  preparation  for  hostilities  against  the  Southern  States. 
While  feeling  thus  I  am  not  insensible  to  the  flattering 
opinion  you  are  pleased  to  express  of  my  qualification  as  a 
regimental  officer,  and  should  the  contingency  arise  in  which 
the  employment  of  military  force  was  in  my  judgment  re 
quisite,  I  know  of  no  persons  with  whom  I  would  be  more 
pleased  to  act  than  with  yourself  and  the  gentlemen  you 
have  named  in  that  connection. 

"Yours  very  respectfully, 
"W.  H.  L.  WALLACE." 

Cyrus  Dickey,  the  brother  of  Mrs.  Wallace,  was  in 
Memphis,  Tennessee,  practicing  law  in  the  closing  months 
of  1860,  and  in  a  letter  from  there  dated  December  20,  1860, 
to  his  younger  brother  shows  something  of  the  state  of  pub 
lic  feeling  in  regard  to  the  prevailing  political  troubles. 

"The  political  troubles  which  threaten  our  Union  as  a 
matter  of  course  affect  greatly  all  branches  of  business  and 
the  practice  of  the  law  is  no  exception.  The  state  of  the 
Union  occupies  universal  attention  here  and  I  am  sorry  to 
say  among  Union  men  very  little  hope  of  its  preservation  is 
entertained. 

"If  all  men,  North  and  South,  had  in  times  past  taken  as 
much  pains  as  our  father  has,  to  teach  his  children  to  re 
spect  and  love  the  people  of  the  whole  country,  without 
respect  to  state  lines  or  state  institutions,  and  had  sent  them 

[95] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

into  other  States  and  sections,  that  they  might  see  the  people 
without  prejudice,  all  the  present  trouble  I  firmly  believe 
would  have  been  avoided  and  the  Union  have  been  as  firmly 
rooted  in  the  hearts  of  all  the  people  as  it  was  in  the  days 
of  Washington;  and  a  word  breathed  against  it  would  be 
regarded  as  incipient  treason.  We  cannot  be  too  thankful 
to  our  father  for  these  educational  advantages.  He  has 
seen  them  and  appreciated  them  when  we  did  not.  And  has 
made  all  his  children  national  in  spite  of  the  sectional  prej 
udice  that  hung  around  our  homes." 

In  a  letter  of  February  7th,  1861,  Cyrus  writes  to  his 
father  of  a  Union  demonstration  in  Memphis  which  is  in 
teresting,  as  but  a  few  months  later  this  same  section  se 
ceded,  although  there  was  a  large  element  in  the  State 
against  secession. 

"Last  night  I  marched  for  three  hours  under  the  old  flag 
with  thirteen  stripes  and  thirty-four  stars  and  an  American 
Eagle  on  it  and  to  the  music  of  the  'Star  Spangled  Banner', 
'Hail  Columbia'  and  'Yankee  Doodle.'  It  is  the  only  pro 
cession  I  have  marched  in  in  Tennessee. 

"The  turn  out  was  in  response  to  a  call  for  a  torch  light 
procession  of  those  opposed  to  immediate  and  unconditional 
secession.  It  was  the  most  successful  demonstration  of  the 
sort  I  ever  saw,  and  drew  forth  all  sorts  of  curses  from  the 
disunionists.  The  procession  was  fully  two  miles  long.  It 
reached  nearly  all  over  the  city  at  one  time,  and  was  per 
fectly  wild  with  enthusiasm.  The  torches  lit  up  the  whole 
city.  The  Stars  and  Stripes  waved  everywhere,  and  every 
drum  and  fife  and  brass  instrument  that  could  be  raised  was 
playing  National  Airs. 

"A  great  many  stores  and  residences  were  illuminated. 
Balconies,  windows  and  doors  were  everywhere  filled  with 
ladies  waving  their  handkerchief  and  huzza-ing  for  the 
Union. 

"At  ten  o'clock  as  much  of  the  procession  as  could  get 
into  one  place  was  crowded  into  'Court  Square.'  The 
American  Flag  was  so  planted  that  it  floated  over  the  statue 
of  General  Jackson. 

"At  least  two  thousand  voices  joined  in  singing  the  'Star 

[96] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Spangled  Banner'  led  by  a  fine  brass  band.  I  never  wit 
nessed  such  unbounded  enthusiasm.  After  this  the  proces 
sion  (which  was  by  this  time  a  street  full  of  people) 
marched  to  the  Exchange  Buildings,  and  listened  to  patrio 
tic  Union  speeches  until  long  after  midnight. 

"This  demonstration  and  other  recent  events  have  in 
spired  high  hopes  that  Tennessee  will  not  secede  and  that 
the  Union  may  yet  be  restored.  A  few  days  more  will  shed 
more  light  upon  the  subject.  The  election  is  on  the  9th. 

"I  think  I  had  better  remain  here  at  all  events  until  the 
middle  of  March.  It  may  yet  be  disagreeable  to  stay." 


[97] 


CHAPTER  XI. 

LINCOLN'S    INAUGURATION.      FIRING   ON    SUMTER.      THE 

COUNTRY  PREPARES  FOR  WAR.    MR.  WALLACE 

MADE  COLONEL. 

IN    February,    1861,    Mr.   Wallace,    sharing   with  many 
others  great  fear  for  Mr.  Lincoln's  personal  safety  at 
the  inauguration,  went  on  to  Washington  to  help  in 
his  protection  if  necessary.    From  there  he  writes  his  wife 
telling  of  his  impressions  on  that  memorable  occasion : 

"Washington  D.  C,  February  27,  1861,  ****** 
We  first  stopped  at  Willard's,  where  Mr.  Lincoln  and  many 
of  the  Illinois  people  are,  but  the  sleeping  accommodations 
were  such  that  we  could  not  stand  it,  so  this  morning  we 
found  a  private  boarding  house.  *  *  *  This  political 
cauldron  has  been  in  a  dreadful  boil  since  I  came.  The 
peace  conference  has  just  reached  a  result  and  will  ad 
journ  today.  You  will  see  the  result  in  the  papers.  (*Note) 
It  gives  great  satisfaction  to  all  conservative  men  of  all 
parties.  Indeed  the  crisis  seemed  so  threatening  that  most 
good  men  forgot  party  and  only  regarded  the  safety  of  the 
country.  Last  night  I  saw  Mr.  Bell  of  Tennessee,  Gover 
nor  Hicks  of  Maryland,  Governor  Pollock  of  Pennsylvania, 
Mr.  Gilmer  of  North  Carolina  and  Thurlow  Weed  of  New 
York,  all  strong  Union  men,  in  anxious  consulation — men 
or  different  parties,  all  content  to  surrender  something  of 
their  party's  dogmas  for  the  sake  of  retaining  the  border 
states  in  the  Union. 

"The  result  of  the  conference  will  cause  a  fierce  contest, 
but  I  really  believe  from  the  present  lights  that  it  is  the  best 
thing  for  the  peace  of  the  country.  For  days  men  having 

NOTE:  "The  peace  conference  adopted  a  peace  measure,  a 
modification  of  the  Guthrie  plan.  The  measure  is  not  known  except 
that  the  matter  has  to  be  submitted  to  State  Legislatures.  Three- 
fourths  must  acquiesce  before  constitution  can  be  amended  to  suit 
compromisers.  They  favored  a  resolution  to  enforce  the  laws  until 
an  amicable  settlement  can  be  made." 

[98] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

the  best  opportunities  of  knowing  have  asserted  with  every 
appearance  of  sincerity  that  unless  something  of  this  kind 
were  done  Maryland,  Virginia,  Tennessee,  North  Carolina 
and  Arkansas  would  certainly  secede.  Governor  Hicks 
of  Maryland,  who  has  stood  in  the  political  breach  like 
Anderson  at  Sumter,  told  me  this  morning  that  if  the 
conference  adjourned  without  advising  anything,  as  the 
prospect  then  was  that  it  would,  he  should  immediately  call 
the  Legislature  of  his  State  together  and  the  State  would  at 
once  secede.  Mr.  Bell  of  Tennessee  also  told  me  that  some 
such  result  as  this  was  necessary  to  enable  the  Union  men 
of  that  State  to  sustain  themselves  and  save  their  State  to 
the  Union.  I  trust  it  may  restore  peace  to  the  country. 

"I  dined  on  Monday  evening  with  Henry  Winter  Davis 
of  Maryland.  Judge  Davis,  Charles  Francis  Adams  of  Mas 
sachusetts,  Mr.  Uhlman  of  New  York,  and  Mr.  Lamon  of 
Bloomington,  Illinois,  were  of  the  party." 

Mr.  Wallace  attended  the  Inauguration  and  writes  of 
the  occasion  to  his  wife. 

"March  5,  1861.  Yesterday  I  looked  upon  a  scene  which 
realized  my  dearest  political  hopes.  I  saw  an  honest  and 
able  man  stand  up  before  his  countrymen  in  the  presence  of 
the  representatives  of  the  civilized  world  and  surrounded  by 
the  insignia  of  power,  and  without  mental  reservation  take 
the  solemn  oath  to  protect  and  defend  the  Constitution  of 
our  country  and  to  take  care  that  its  laws  be  enforced.  It 
was  an  imposing  scene.  By  the  kindness  of  Henry  Winter 
Davis  of  Maryland  I  was  admitted  to  the  floor  of  the  House 
of  Representatives  and  spent  the  last  hour  of  the  session 
there  and  from  there  went  upon  the  eastern  portico  from 
which  I  could  see  the  assembling  crowd,  and  witness  the 
whole  ceremony  of  the  inauguration.  You  will  have  read 
in  the  papers  the  full  particulars  before  this  can  reach  you, 
and  I  need  only  say  that  when  the  ceremony  by  Mr.  Lincoln 
kissing  the  Book  and  the  fine  band  of  the  Marine  Corps 
broke  forth  in  triumphant  strains  of  music  mingled  with  the 
joyous  shouts  of  the  vast  multitude,  it  seemed  to  me  that 
our  country  had  passed  the  darkest  hour  of  her  history  and 

[99] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

the  future  was  brightened  with  the  dawn  of  a  happier  day. 
*  *  *  *  Conservative  men  of  all  parties  here  are  grati 
fied  with  the  tone  and  spirit  of  the  President's  address,  and 
the  direct  and  honest  manner  in  which  he  met  and  dealt 
with  the  exciting  questions  of  the  day,  marked  him  at  once 
an  honest  and  capable  man. 

"He  had  been  so  abused  and  misrepresented  that  the 
great  mass  of  people  here  who  did  not  know  him  were  as 
much  surprised  at  his  ability  as  they  were  pleased  by  the 
spirit  of  this  his  first  official  act.  The  fearful  feeling  of 
foreboding  that  seemed  to  pervade  the  whole  atmosphere  is 
changed  to  one  of  confidence  and  trust  in  the  future. 

"I  have  seen  Mr.  Lincoln  but  twice  since  I  have  been 
here.  I  called  to-day  with  about  five  hundred  other  people 
from  Illinois,  to  pay  our  respects  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln 
in  their  new  home.  Mr.  Lincoln  seemed  perfectly  at  home 
— that  is,  he  was  as  awkward  and  easy  there  as  he  always 
was  in  Illinois.  Mrs.  Lincoln  seems  to  support  the  dignity 
of  her  new  position  with  becoming  grace.  *  *  *  I  expect 
to  see  Mr.  Lincoln  to-morrow  and  put  my  application  be 
fore  him." 

While  in  Washington  Mr.  Wallace  received  a  letter  from 
his  wife  showing  she,  too,  shared  in  the  anxiety  held  by  her 
husband  and  her  country: 

"OTTAWA,  111.,  March  6,  1861. 

"I  have  been  to  church  this  morning  and  joined  my  heart 
and  voice  with,  I  trust,  thousands  of  others  in  a  prayer  for 
the  'President  of  the  United  States.'  The  prayer  on  my 
part  much  heartier  than  usual.  Added  to  my  love  for  our 
country  was  my  love  for  the  individual.  *****  \ye 
are  very  lonesome  at  our  house.  I  want  you  to  stay  as  long 
as  it  is  best  and  pleasant  for  you,  but  know  I  am  longing 
every  moment  to  be  near  you.  The  presence  and  love  of 
my  husband  is  the  great  pleasure  of  my  life.  It  seems  to 
me  I  would  die  if  I  did  not  hope  to  see  you  again." 

In  answer  her  husband  writes  from  Washington  on 
March  9th:  *  *  *  "What  you  said  about  praying  for 
the  President  of  the  United  States  really  made  me  soften 
at  heart.  God,  I  trust,  will  hear  and  answer  the  fervent  and 

[100] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  .W>'fl.  L,  WALLACE 


hearty  prayers  that  are  going  up  to  "Him  -3$.  oy^f  tjte,: 
from  such  pure  hearts  as  yours  in  behalf  of  the  President. 
He  needs  the  sustaining  aid  of  the  Almighty  in  the  perilous 
and  ardous  duties  of  his  station." 

Mr.  Wallace  continues  his  letter: 

"Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  held  their  first  levee  or  reception 
last  night.  The  throng  was  immense,  ladies'  crinoline  suf 
fered  mercilessly.  The  crowd  was  thickly  sprinkled  with 
the  gay  uniforms  of  the  Army  and  Navy  and  the  diplomatic 
corps.  Mr.  Lincoln  wore  white  kid  gloves  and  worked 
away  at  shaking  hands  with  the  multitude  with  much  the 
same  air  and  movement  as  if  he  were  mauling  rails. 

"I  do  not  know  yet  whether  I  will  succeed  in  my  appli 
cation,  but  I  am  determined  not  to  be  much  disappointed  if 
I  don't.  The  delegation  in  congress  —  the  senators  and  rep 
resentatives  —  claim  to  dictate  the  appointments  for  the 
whole  State  and  if  this  claim  is  sustained  I  suppose  I  will  be 
counted  out.  But  the  indications  now  are  that  so  far  as 
Illinois  is  concerned  Mr.  Lincoln  will  see  to  the  appoint 
ments  himself. 

"It  is  rumored  that  he  has  already  appointed  Archibald 
Williams  Judge  of  Kansas  without  consulting  the  delega 
tion,  and  that  they  (the  delegation)  are  mad  about  it.  It  is 
also  rumored  that  he  has  appointed  Mr.  Alex.  Simpson  of 
Hancock  County,  Marshall  of  the  Northern  District  of 
Illinois  over  the  unanimous  recommendation  of  the  delega 
tion  for  another  man.  As  far  as  regards  the  attorneyship 
the  delegation  are  divided.  Washburn,  Farnsworth,  Love- 
joy  and  Kellogg  have  recommended  Joe  Knox  —  Mr.  Arnold, 
the  new  member  from  Chicago,  is  very  much  opposed  to 
Knox  and  desires  to  have  Mr.  Larned  of  Chicago  appointed, 
but  if  he  cannot  succeed  in  that  he  is  for  me.  Mr.  Trum- 
bull  has  not  recommended  anyone,  but  tells  me  he  hopes 
things  may  turn  so  that  I  may  get  it.  If  I  can  keep  the 
delegation  divided  I  think  my  chances  are  the  best,  and  even 
if  they  should  unite  on  Knox  I  should  still  not  be  without 
hope." 

Mr.  E.  C.  Larned  of  Chicago  won  the  appointment. 
The  optimistic  views  held  by  Mr.  Wallace  that  the  coun- 

[101] 


LIFE  AND^LETT-ERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

try*  h$4'  passed  tits -darkest  hour  were  not  to  be  realized.  On 
April  12th  Fort  Sumter  was  fired  on — the  fatal  shot  that 
began  the  terrible  strife  of  civil  war,  homes  made  desolate, 
treasure  in  blood  and  money  given  boundlessly  to  keep  a 
united  country.  We  of  a  later  generation  can  scarcely  real 
ize  the  excitement  and  intense  feeling  that  was  aroused  by 
this  assault  on  Fort  Sumter.  We  have  enjoyed  the  result 
in  peace  and  prosperity  of  a  united  country  all  our  lives  that 
was  given  us  by  the  blood  and  terrible  sufferings  of  our 
martyred  fathers.  We  scarcely  appreciate  what  was  done 
for  us  and  honor  enough  the  brave  men  who  sacrified  so 
much  that  we  now  can  have  a  country  to  love  and  one  that 
is  honored  by  all. 

To  give  some  idea  of  the  prevailing  feeling  aroused  by 
the  firing  upon  Fort  Sumter,  a  quotation  is  here  given  from 
Rev.  T.  M.  Eddy's  Patriotism  of  Illinois : 

"The  Union  was  assailed;  the  right  of  the  constitutional 
majority  to  rule  was  denied,  and  war  begun.  Perhaps  no 
single  thought  proved  more  intensely  exciting  than  the  dis 
honor  to  the  flag.  It  was  the  representative  of  Government ; 
it  was  the  symbol  of  national  majesty;  it  was  the  emblem 
of  authority  and  protection.  It  had  been  honored  on  all 
seas,  had  afforded  sanctuary  in  all  lands,  and  now  it  was  in 
sulted  and  hauled  down  before  home  conspirators!  'For 
the  Flag!'  'Defend  the  Flag!'  'Rally  to  the  Flag'  'Avenge 
the  Stars  and  Stripes!'  were  mottoes  seen  in  all  places! 
The  Flag  was  displayed  everywhere  from  stores,  shops  and 
printing  offices. 

"It  floated  from  church  spires,  and  draped  alike  ortho 
dox  and  heterodox  pulpits.  It  flaunted  from  private  resid 
ences  and  school  rooms  and  miniature  ones  were  placed 
upon  the  cradles  of  little  ones  soon  to  be  left  fatherless  by  the 
fortunes  of  war.  It  was  mounted  on  almost  every  locomo 
tive.  *  *  *  In  a  day  old  party  lines  went  down,  and  for  a 
season  we  were  again  one  people,  united  in  the  determined 
purpose  of  National  Salvation.  Nineteen  millions  of  people 
were  intensely  excited ;  moving  like  vast  waves  surging  be 
fore  a  great  wind. 

"In  the  churches,  pulpits  thundered  stern  denunciation  of 

[102] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

rebellion.  The  ministers  declared  that  God  had  set  this 
land  midway  between  the  oceans  as  a  great  political  and 
religious  missionary  land.  They  showed  it  as  the  home  of 
a  united  people,  and  that  when  He  aforetime  determined 
the  bounds  of  our  habitation  He  gave  us  this  land  to  be 
made,  in  its  entirety,  the  land  of  free  speech,  free  presses, 
free  schools,  free  pulpits,  free  men  and  women.  They  said 
He  so  built  its  mountains  as  to  bind  together,  not  divide,  the 
North  and  the  South;  and  what  God  has  joined  together  let 
no  man  put  asunder ! 

"He  has  traced  the  great  rivers  of  the  continent  so  there 
can  not  be  dividing  lines  between  the  States  of  the  cotton, 
the  rice  and  the  sugar  and  those  of  the  wheat,  the  corn  and 
the  barley,  with  the  beds  of  coal  and  the  spindles  of  in 
dustry.  They  said  He  hath  made  it  one,  and  never  can  it 
be  cut  in  twain.  More  than  one,  at  the  very  outset  saw  the 
contest  was  between  Freedom  and  Slavery,  and  putting  on 
the  prophet's  mantle,  said :  'Slavery  hath  taken  the  sword ; 
it  shall  perish  by  the  sword !'  Not  in  the  Crusades  was  the 
religious  spirit  more  marked,  causative  and  controlling  than 
in  the  Great  Uprising  of  1861. 

"The  press  was  active.  Political,  secular  and  religious 
alike  made  appeal  after  appeal  *  *  *  *  Oratory 
played  its  part,  and  from  rostrum,  from  out-door  stands, 
from  court-house  steps  and  hotel  balconies,  speakers  ad 
dressed  masses  of  people  animated  with  one  great  purpose. 

"The  women,  knowing  that  war  meant  bereavement  of 
husbands,  sons,  brothers  and  plighted  lovers,  said  the  na 
tion's  honor  must  be  preserved,  no  matter  at  what  cost ! 

"All  eyes  were  turned  toward  the  National  Capitol  and 
the  eager  question  went  from  lip  to  lip:  'What  will  the 
President  do?'  The  question  was  soon  answered.  Before 
nightfall  on  Monday,  the  15th,  was  transmitted  by  tele 
graph  the  following  proclamation : 

"PROCLAMATION. 
"By  the  President  of  the  United  States. 

"Whereas,  The  laws  of  the  United  States  have  been  for 
some  time  past  and  now  are  opposed,  and  the  execution 

[103] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

thereof  obstructed,  in  the  States  of  South  Carolina,  Geor 
gia,  Alabama,  Florida,  Mississippi,  Louisiana,  and  Texas 
by  combinations  too  powerful  to  be  suppressed  by  the  ordi 
nary  course  of  judicial  proceedings,  or  by  the  powers  vested 
in  the  marshals  by  law ;  now,  therefore,  I,  Abraham  Lincoln, 
President  of  the  United  States,  in  virtue  of  the  power  in 
me  vested  by  the  Constitution  and  the  laws,  have  thought 
fit  to  call  forth,  and  hereby  do  call  forth,  the  militia  of  the 
several  States  of  the  Unions  to  the  aggregate  number  of 
75,000  in  order  to  suppress  said  combination,  and  to  cause 
the  laws  to  be  duly  executed. 

"The  details  for  this  object  will  be  immediately  com 
municated  to  the  State  authorities  through  the  War  Depart 
ment.  I  appeal  to  all  loyal  citizens  to  favor,  facilitate,  and 
aid  this  effort  to  maintain  the  honor,  the  integrity,  and  ex 
istence  of  our  National  Union  and  the  perpetuity  of  pop 
ular  government,  and  to  redress  wrongs  already  long 
enough  endured.  I  deem  it  proper  to  say  that  the  first 
service  assigned  to  the  forces  hereby  called  forth  will  prob 
ably  be  to  repossess  the  forts,  places  and  property  which 
have  been  seized  from  the  Union;  and  in  every  event  the 
utmost  care  will  be  observed,  consistently  with  the  objects 
aforesaid,  to  avoid  any  devastation,  any  destruction  of, 
or  interference  with,  property,  or  any  disturbance  of  peace 
ful  citizens  of  any  part  of  the  country;  and  I  hereby  com 
mand  the  persons  composing  the  combinations  aforesaid, 
to  disperse  and  retire  peaceably  to  their  respective  abodes, 
within  twenty  days  from  this  date. 

"Deeming  that  the  present  condition  of  public  affairs 
presents  an  extraordinary  occasion,  I  do  hereby,  in  virtue 
of  the  power  in  me  vested  by  the  Constitution,  convene 
both  houses  of  Congress.  The  Senators  and  Representa 
tives  are,  therefore,  summoned  to  assemble  at  their  respec 
tive  chambers  at  twelve  o'clock,  noon,  on  Thursday,  the 
fourth  day  of  July  next,  then  and  there  to  consider  and  de 
termine  such  measures  as,  in  their  wisdom,  the  public  safety 
and  interest  may  seem  to  demand. 

"In  witness  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand,  and 
caused  the  seal  of  the  United  States  to  be  affixed. 

"Done  at  the  City  of  Washington,  this  fifteenth  day  of 

[104] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred 
and  sixty-one,  and  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States, 
the  eighty-fifth.  ABRAHAM  LINCOLN. 

"By  the  President, 

"WILLIAM  H.  SEWARD,  Secretary  of  State." 

On  April  15th  a  call  was  made  on  the  Governor  of  Illi 
nois  by  Simon  Cameron,  Secretary  of  War,  for  six  regi 
ments  for  immediate  service. 

Governor  Yates  called  the  Legislature  to  convene  by 
April  23d  to  make  preparations  to  obey  this  call  for  troops. 

All  over  the  country  there  was  nothing  else  talked  of  but 
this  treasonable  assault  on  the  government,  and  the  meas 
ures  and  means  to  suppress  the  outbreak. 

Men  offered  themselves  by  hundreds  and  thousands,  no 
lack  of  men — but  there  was  the  equipment  to  be  furnished, 
firearms  and  clothing,  living  accommodations,  as  President 
Lincoln  said  when  begged  for  the  necessary  equipment  for 
the  organized  and  willing  regiments:  "The  ore  is  still  in 
the  mine  from  which  the  guns  are  to  be  made  and  the  wool 
on  the  sheep  for  the  clothing."  The  South  had  been  se 
cretly  preparing  for  years  and  was  better  equipped  in  every 
way.  Firearms  had  been  sent  to  the  South  from  the  Fed 
eral  arsenals.  The  North,  however,  though  the  clouds  had 
been  so  lowering  for  years,  was  thunderstruck  and  utterly 
unprepared  for  the  pressing  emergency,  and  it  is  sad  to  say 
it  took  her  many  months,  aye,  almost  years,  to  realize  the 
vastness  and  the  enormity  before  her  in  suppressing  this  un 
holy  rebellion. 

Mr.  Wallace  offered  his  services  immediately  with  no 
selfish  thought  of  the  personal  sacrifice  engendered  in  leav 
ing  home,  and  his  lucrative  law  practice.  He  had  built  a 
beautiful  suburban  home  on  the  bluff  overlooking  Ottawa 
and  had  enjoyed  but  one  year  of  pleasure  in  the  new  house 
he  and  his  wife  for  two  years  had  taken  such  pleasure  in 
planning  and  building,  when  the  war  came  and  he  left  it 
never  again  to  return  there  to  live.  While  he  was  in 
Springfield  making  arrangements  for  the  enlistments,  his 
wife  writes,  and  how  many  a  woman's  heart  yearned  the 
same  way: 

[105] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"Must  you  really  go?  I  only  know  now,  when  it  is  too 
late,  how  much  hope  I  have  had  that  you  would  think  it 
best  to  serve  your  country  at  home." 

It  can  scarcely  be  realized  with  what  dispatch,  after  the 
President's  proclamation  on  April  15th,  the  country  was  on 
a  war  footing.  But  nine  days  after  this  Mr.  Wallace  had 
enlisted,  formed  a  regiment,  and  with  his  men  was  at  the 
State  capitol.  From  Springfield  he  writes  to  his  wife  on 
April  24th,  1861  : 

"The  feeling  here  is  tremendous  and  almost  unanimous 
in  sustaining  the  Government.  Mr.  Douglas  is  expected 
here  to-morrow  morning  and  it  is  thought  he  will  make 
things  quite  unanimous.  The  troops  here  will  probably  be 
required  for  active  service  immediately." 

A  unanimous  support  by  the  Legislature  to  the  Gover 
nor's  request  for  war  appropriations  was  imperative ;  a  bill 
was  introduced,  but  was  being  dallied  with  from  day  to  day, 
fearing  it  could  not  be  carried  owing  to  the  southern  coun 
ties  of  the  State  being  largely  Southern  sympathizers. 
These  sections  with  southern  Indiana  were  devoted  to  Mr. 
Douglas  and  it  was  thought  he  could,  if  he  would,  bring 
unanimity  of  action;  so  it  was  important  to  know  where  he 
stood  and  gain  his  influence  for  the  Northern  side.  Hon. 
Washington  Bushnell,  then  State  Senator,  drafted  a  reso 
lution  which  he  presented  to  the  Legislature,  and  which 
was  passed,  asking  Mr.  Douglas  to  address  that  body,  thus 
making  it  necessary  for  him  to  come  forward  and  show  his 
position  on  the  vital  question  agitating  the  Nation. 

Dr.  Eddy  says :  "Mr  .Douglas  in  the  political  controver 
sies  of  preceding  years  was  in  favor  of  compromise,  but 
when  the  crisis  arrived,  the  parting  of  the  ways  between  the 
Southern  States  seceding  from  the  Federal  Government, 
Douglas  rose  to  this  great  emergency  and  with  his  magical 
and  gifted  oratory  and  personal  power  urged  loyality  at  all 
hazards  to  the  Central  Government. 

"He  reached  Springfield  on  the  25th  of  April  and  ad 
dressed  the  two  houses  of  the  State  Legislature  in  a  style 
of  magical  power." 

He  said:     "For  the  first  time  since  the  adoption  of  the 

[106] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Federal  Constitution,  a  wide-spread  conspiracy  exists  to 
overthrow  the  best  government  the  sun  ever  shone  upon. 
An  invading  army  is  marching  upon  Washington.  The 
boast  has  gone  forth  from  the  Secretary  of  War  of  the  so- 
called  Confederate  States,  that  by  the  first  of  May  the 
rebel  army  will  be  in  possession  of  the  National  Capitol, 
and,  by  the  first  of  July,  its  headquarters  will  be  in  old  In 
dependence  Hall. 

"The  only  question  for  us  is,  whether  we  shall  wait  su 
pinely  for  the  invaders,  or  rush,  as  one  man,  to  the  defence 
of  that  we  hold  most  dear.  Piratical  flags  are  afloat  on  the 
ocean,  under  pretended  letters  of  marque.  Our  Great  River 
has  been  closed  to  the  commerce  of  the  Northwest. 
*  *  *  *  So  long  as  a  hope  remained  of  peace,  I  plead 
and  implored  for  compromise.  Now,  that  all  has  failed, 
there  is  but  one  course  left,  and  that  is  to  rally,  as  one  man, 
under  the  flag  of  Washington,  Jefferson,  Hamilton,  Madi 
son  and  Franklin.  At  what  time  since  the  Government  was 
organized  have  the  Constitutional  rights  of  the  South  been 
more  secure  than  now?  For  the  first  time  since  the  Consti 
tution  was  adopted  there  is  no  legal  restriction  against  the 
spread  of  slavery  in  the  territories.  When  was  the  Fugi 
tive  Slave  Law  more  faithfully  executed?  What  single 
act  has  been  done  to  justify  this  mad  attempt  to  overthrow 
the  Republic?  We  are  told  that  because  a  certain  party 
has  carried  a  Presidential  election,  therefore  the  South 
chose  to  consider  their  liberties  insecure !  I  had  supposed 
it  was  a  fundamental  principle  of  American  institutions 
that  the  will  of  the  majority,  constitutionally  expressed, 
should  govern !  If  a  defeat  at  the  ballot  box  is  to  justify 
rebellion,  the  future  history  of  the  United  States  may  be 
read  in  the  past  history  of  Mexico. 

****** 

"It  is  a  prodigious  crime  against  the  freedom  of  the 
world  to  blot  the  United  States  out  of  the  map  of  Christen 
dom.  *  *  *  *  How  long  do  you  think  it  will  be  ere 
the  guillotine  is  in  operation?  Allow  me  to  say  to  my  for 
mer  political  enemies,  you  will  not  be  true  to  your  country 
if  you  seek  to  make  political  capital  out  of  these  disasters; 
and  to  my  old  friends,  you  will  be  false  and  unworthy  of 

[107] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

your  principles  if  you  allow  political  defeat  to  convert  you 
into  traitors  to  your  national  land.  The  shortest  way  now 
to  peace  is  the  most  stupendous  and  unanimous  preparations 
for  war.  Gentlemen,  it  is  our  duty  to  defend  our  Constitu 
tion  and  protect  our  Flag." 

Douglas  made  another  speech  in  Chicago — his  last,  and 
worthy  of  this  great  statesman.  These  two  speeches  were 
sent  by  telegraph  to  all  sections  of  the  country  and  without 
doubt  united  the  West  and  prevented  the  horrors  of  civil 
war  east  of  the  Mississippi  and  north  of  the  Ohio  river. 
As  Dr.  Eddy  says:  "His  voice  had  such  power  as  had  no 
other.  His  words  were  as  the  prophets  of  old,  falling  upon 
the  public  conscience  and  the  public  heart !" 

Mr.  Wallace  writes  of  the  first  speech  from  Springfield, 
April  25th : 

"Judge  Douglas  and  wife  arrived  here  this  morning.  The 
Judge  made  a  manly,  forcible  and  patriotic  speech  to-night 
before  the  Legislature  at  a  unanimous  request  passed  by 
both  branches.  He  took  high  ground  in  support  of  the  con 
stitutional  authorities  and  was  loudly  and  frequently  ap 
plauded  by  men  of  all  parties.  It  is  thought  that  his  pres 
ence  and  influence  will  create  perfect  unanimity  on  all  meas 
ures  in  support  of  the  Government  which  may  be  passed  by 
the  Legislature,  and  the  moral  effect  of  his  course  will  add 
greatly  to  the  force  of  any  measures  that  may  be  adopted, 
by  showing  an  undivided  State  rallying  in  support  of  the 
Federal  Government." 

Cyrus  Dickey,  Mrs.  Wallace's  eldest  brother,  joined  one 
of  the  companies  made  up  in  La  Salle  County,  which  after 
wards  made  part  of  the  Eleventh  regiment  commanded  by 
Colonel  Wallace.  He  writes  from  Springfield  to  his  sister 
something  of  the  situation  in  which  the  new  soldiers  were : 

"CAMP  YATES,  April  24,  1861. 

"We  have  now  been  twenty-four  hours  in  camp  and  are 
beginning  to  get  the  run  of  the  ropes  slightly.  Our  initia 
tion  was  rather  a  tough  one.  We  rode  all  night  from  Joliet 
in  a  train  of  fourteen  cars  crowded  with  soldiers,  about 
four  hundred,  besides  a  great  crowd  of  other  passengers. 

[108] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

We  arrived  at  Springfield  about  8  A.  M.  yesterday  and 
marched  without  breakfast  to  the  camp,  which  is  at  the  old 
Fair  grounds. 

"The  rush  of  volunteers,  and  the  haste  with  which  the 
arrangements  have  been  made  to  receive  them,  has  given 
but  little  chance  to  make  proper  provision  for  our  keeping. 

"We  lay  on  the  grass  for  over  two  hours  before  we  had 
quarters  assigned  us,  and  then  it  was  more  than  an  hour 
before  we  could  get  our  rations  and  cooking  utensils  and  get 
our  first  camp  meal  prepared. 

"Our  quarters  are  the  old  cattle  stalls  with  a  curtain  in 
front.  The  wind  has  been  from  the  west  ever  since  we 
came  in,  and  the  smoke  from  our  camp  fires  (which  are 
in  front)  fills  all  the  stalls  or  quarters  with  smoke.  I  rolled 
myself  up  in  my  blanket  and  went  to  sleep  on  the  hay  last 
night  feeling  very  tired  and  with  a  severe  headache,  but  got 
up  at  daylight  this  morning  feeling  perfectly  well  and  clear 
headed. 

"It  is  a  pretty  rough  life,  but  not  more  so  than  I  antici 
pated.  Will  was  here  yesterday  and  is  here  again  to-day. 
The  election  of  field  officers  takes  place  this  p.  M.  and  I 
think  Wallace  is  probably  to  be  the  Colonel  of  our  regi 
ment — we  will  know  before  night. 

"Our  company  has  adopted  a  cheer  for  saluting  colors, 
which  commands  the  admiration  of  the  whole  camp  and 
beats  the  'Tiger'.  It  is  'Ottawa'  pronounced  in  three  meas 
ures — 1-2-3-  Au-tau-wa.  *  *  *  *  I  write  this  under 
a  tree  in  a  gale  of  wind,  on  the  top  of  Widmer's  valise." 

The  organization  of  the  regiments  was  slower  than  was 
anticipated.  Mr.  Wallace  writes  his  wife  from  Springfield 
on  April  28th : 

"Our  regimental  organization  is  not  yet  completed.  Cap 
tain  Pope,  the  mustering  officer,  went  to  Cairo  yesterday 
and  will  not  return  before  Tuesday.  I  have  the  most  pos 
itive  assurance  from  the  Governor  that  our  regiment  shall 
be  the  next  formed  here.  There  have  been  three  formed, 
the  Seventh,  Colonel  Cook ;  the  Eighth,  Colonel  Oglesby,  and 
the  Ninth,  Colonel  Paine.  *  *  *  * 

[109] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

As  it  was  probable  he  could  not  leave  to  go  home  Mr. 
Wallace  wrote  his  wife  to  be  in  readiness  to  come  to  him, 
but  he  says : 

"You  ought  to  have  an  escort  now,  as  the  cars  are  full 
of  soldiers ;  perhaps  your  father  will  let  Charlie  come  with 
you  or  perhaps  John  could  come,  but  don't  come  alone." 

The  Illinois  regiments,  out  of  respect  for  those  of  the 
Mexican  war,  began  numbering  from  where  they  left  off 
in  the  Mexican  war ;  thus,  the  Illinois  regiments  in  the  Civil 
war  began  with  seven. 

The  Eleventh  regiment  was  mustered  into  service  on 
April  30th  with  Mr.  Wallace  as  the  Colonel,  and  was  or 
dered  to  Villa  Ridge  on  May  5th.  Mrs.  Wallace  joined  her 
husband  and  remained  with  him  until  the  regiment  left 
Springfield.  At  Villa  Ridge  Colonel  Wallace  named  his 
camp  Hardin,  in  honor  of  his  idolized  and  gallant  Colonel 
in  the  Mexican  war,  John  J.  Hardin.  From  the  new  camp 
Colonel  Wallace  writes  his  wife : 

"HEAD  QUARTERS,  CAMP  HARDIN, 
"VILLA  RIDGE,  May  12th,  1861. 

"One  week  ago  to-day  this  afternoon  I  left  you  at  the 
St.  Nicholas  Hotel  in  Springfield  and  rode  out  to  Camp 
Yates  and  took  command  of  my  regiment  and  marched 
them  through  the  city  to  the  Great  Western  depot.  Amid 
the  hurry  and  bustle  of  departure  and  the  sense  of  responsi 
bility  in  starting  off  with  nine  hundred  men,  illy  disciplined 
and  poorly  provided,  I  still  thought  of  you  and  the  lonely 
feeling  you  would  have  when  you  found  yourself  alone, 
and  I  prayed  inwardly  that  you  might  be  comforted  and 
sustained. 

"When  my  men  were  all  embarked  in  the  cars,  I  inquired 
of  the  officers  having  charge  of  shipping  supplies  if  the  nec 
essary  means  of  subsistence  and  defence  were  on  board, 
and  was  told  that  they  were.  I  had  previously  given  the 
necessary  orders  for  provisions  for  ten  days  and  ammuni 
tion  for  our  command.  We  were  much  crowded,  and  after 
the  fatigue  and  excitement  of  the  day  I  felt  very  weary 

[110] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

and  the  men  near  me  in  the  cars  were  restless.  I  endeav 
ored  to  quiet  them  and  soon  succeeded. 

"The  command  was  divided  into  two  trains,  the  provi 
sions  and  baggage  being  in  the  advance  with  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  Filler,  while  four  companies  with  myself  and  staff 
were  in  the  rear  train. 

"We  reached  Decatur  at  9  o'clock,  there  were  switched 
onto  the  I.  C.  R.  R.  and  went  south.  At  6  o'clock  next 
morning  we  reached  Carbondale,  where  I  learned  that  no 
preparations  whatever  had  been  made  for  our  reception. 
It  was  then  raining  heavily  and  it  appeared  that  we  were 
to  be  turned  out  here  in  the  woods  without  tents  or  shelter. 
I  stopped  at  all  the  stations  between  here  and  Carbondale 
and  made  inquiry  about  lumber  and  carpenters  and  gathered 
up  all  the  carpenters  we  could  find  and  reached  here  at  1 
o'clock  A.  M.  with  some  twenty  carpenters.  I  got  a  cup  of 
coffee  and  some  half-baked  biscuits  at  a  house  near  the  sta 
tion — the  first  I  had  eaten  since  I  took  dinner  with  you  on 
Sunday  at  the  St.  Nicholas — and  immediately  set  out  to 
select  a  place  for  encampment. 

"I  found  one  on  the  hill  just  east  of  the  railroad  station, 
a  beautiful  spot,  combining  the  advantages  of  good  water, 
shade  and  drill  grounds,  though  it  was  somewhat  cramped 
for  a  regiment.  I  laid  off  the  encampment  and  set  men  to 
work,  found  some  lumber  here  and  ordered  more  from 
above,  and  before  an  hour  the  place  was  noisy  with  the 
sound  of  saws  and  hammers.  I  ordered  a  part  of  the  cars 
we  came  in  to  remain  on  the  side  track,  and  took  posses 
sion  of  a  cooper-shop  and  one  or  two  other  small  buildings, 
so  as  to  afford  shelter  for  the  men.  In  the  afternoon  the 
weather  cleared  off,  the  sun  came  out  fine  and  some  of  the 
companies  moved  onto  the  ground  and  bivouacked  in  the 
woods.  I  also  established  a  telegraph  office  here  and  put 
Ed  Schermerhorn  into  it,  having  obtained  authority  to  do 
so  before  leaving  Springfield. 

"Monday  night  was  clear  and  beautiful  and  the  men  got 
along  very  comfortably ;  but  Tuesday  morning  I  discovered 
to  my  dismay  that  we  were  without  meat  for  the  men — 
there  being  only  one  day's  rations  of  meat  sent  along,  not 
withstanding  my  orders  and  the  assurances  I  had  received. 

[Ill] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

This  circumstance  with  its  surroundings  caused  me  more 
anxiety  than  the  presence  of  an  enemy  would  have  done. 
I  took  active  measures  to  supply  the  want  by  ordering 
temporary  supplies  from  Cairo,  but  the  rations  were  ir 
regular  for  several  days.  *  *  *  *  The  work  of  build 
ing  sheds  or  barracks  has  gone  on  rapidly  and  we  are  all 
now  under  shelter  and  as  comfortable  as  men  can  be  in 
camp  in  rainy  weather. 

"We  must  postpone  the  delights  of  peace  till  peace  is 
again  restored.  Then  when  our  government  is  again  estab 
lished,  and  the  supremacy  of  our  flag  again  acknowledged 
throughout  the  land  we  will  sit  down  in  our  quiet  home  and 
enjoy  the  blessings  guaranteed  to  us  by  Providence  and  the 
best  government  in  the  world. 

"I  went  to  Cairo  yesterday,  being  the  first  time  I  have 
left  camp  since  I  came  here.  I  saw  General  Prentiss,  Col 
onels  Oglesby,  Paine  and  Morgan  and  all  the  officers  of 
their  commands.  I  dined  with  Colonel  Oglesby  and  his 
staff  and  in  the  afternoon  attended  a  meeting  of  the  com 
missioned  officers  of  the  three  regiments.  They  had  just 
received  notice  of  the  difficulties  at  St.  Louis.  They  do  not 
anticipate  any  attack  on  Cairo,  but  are  expecting  orders  to 
advance,  particularly  if  Missouri  should  secede.  A  squad 
ron  of  dragoons  will  be  down  to-night  and  a  portion  of 
them  will  be  assigned  to  me.  We  need  them  very  much  for 
scouts  and  outposts. 

"We  are  a  great  deal  more  comfortable  here,  although 
we  landed  here  six  days  ago  without  anything,  than  they 
are  in  Cairo,  and  I  feel  that  I  have  my  regiment  in  shape, 
better  disciplined,  better  drilled  than  those  in  Cairo  that 
have  been  longer  in  the  service  and  I  feel  proud  of  it.  I 
begin  to  feel  assured  of  my  position  and  if  any  distinction  is 
to  be  won  in  this  war  I  will  have  my  fair  share  of  it.  I 
know  there  are  people  who  are  jealous  minded  and  disap 
pointed  who  will  harp  and  distract,  but  I  feel  with  my  regi 
ment  I  am  beyond  and  above  all  such  influence.  Discipline 
comes  hard  on  volunteers,  and  I  am  obliged  to  be  severe 
sometimes,  and  expect  some  dissatisfaction,  but  I  believe 
I  have  the  confidence  of  the  officers  and  men  of  my  com 
mand,  and  if  we  should  have  an  engagement,  they  will  find 

[112] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

this  discipline  the  very  making  of  their  reputation  as  a  reg 
iment.  I  think  I  have  succeeded  in  inspiring  a  proper 
'Esprit  de  corps'  as  the  French  say,  and  all  seem  animated 
with  a  desire  to  make  this  the  crack  regiment  of  the  serv 
ice  *  *  *  *  We  have  established  regular  camp  dis 
cipline  and  are  drilling  constantly.  The  men  are  generally 
attentive  to  their  duties  and  seem  anxious  to  be  instructed. 
I  have  a  fine  regiment.  I  think  they  have  confidence  in  me 
and  I  am  proud  of  them." 

Mrs.  Wallace  spent  a  few  days  in  camp  with  her  hus 
band,  and  on  her  return  home  wrote  from  Ottawa,  on  May 
28th:  "My  visit  to  your  camp  did  me  so  much  good  to 
see  you  and  your  men  entering  into  their  work  with  such 
ready  self-sacrifice  and  zeal,  has  inspired  me.  I  think  I  can 
do  my  little  part  of  the  work  with  a  cheerful,  hopeful  spirit, 
ready,  if  the  worst  that  I  fear  should  come  to  me,  to  accept 
it  bravely  and  resignedly  as  God's  will.  My  many  blessings 
and  light  sorrows  all  came  from  the  same  tender  Father's 
hand." 

Three  of  Colonel  Wallace's  brothers  followed  him  into 
the  war.  M.  R.  M.  Wallace  entered  as  Major  in  Colonel 
Dickey's  Fourth  Cavalry,  organized  in  La  Salle  County  in 
August,  1861,  becoming  later  Colonel  of  the  regiment  and  a 
brevet  Brigadier-General.  He  practiced  law  in  Chicago 
after  the  war,  and  was  for  many  years  Judge  of  the  Cook 
County  Court,  filling  this  office  with  distinction  and  ability. 

John  Wallace  went  into  the  Fourth  Cavalry,  first  as  Sec 
ond  Lieutenant  of  Company  E,  and  rising  to  Captain  of 
Company  K.  He  remained  in  the  regiment  until  it  was 
mustered  out  in  Houston,  Texas,  May  29,  1866,  the  last  Il 
linois  regiment  in  the  service.  He  died  soon  afterwards  in 
Houston  of  yellow  fever. 

Matthew  Wallace,  a  bright,  joyous,  promising  young 
man  of  twenty-two,  also  entered  the  Fourth  Cavalry.  He 
was  accidentally  drowned  but  a  few  months  after  enlisting, 
when  his  regiment  was  on  a  transport  on  the  Ohio  river 
bound  for  service  in  Kentucky. 

A  fourth  brother,  Hitt  Wallace,  although  not  enlisting  as 
a  soldier,  was  at  the  seat  of  war  as  clerk  in  the  Commissary 

[113] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Department  under  G.  L.  Fort  until  he  contracted  the  small 
pox  and  was  compelled  by  ill  health  to  return  north.  Mrs. 
Wallace's  father,  Judge  Dickey,  went  into  the  war  as  Col 
onel  of  the  Fourth  Cavalry ;  her  eldest  brother,  Cyrus,  went 
into  the  Eleventh  Infantry  regiment,  and  her  youngest 
brother,  Charlie,  enlisted  in  his  father's  cavalry  regiment. 
Besides  these  near  relatives,  Mrs.  Wallace  had  cousins  in 
both  the  Northern  and  Southern  armies.  Her  Confederate 
cousins  were  taken  prisoners  and  sent  to  Camp  Douglas  in 
Chicago,  where  she  was  able  to  visit  them  and  give  them 
comforts  in  their  Northern  prison. 


[114] 


CHAPTER  XII. 

COLONEL  WALLACE'S  REGIMENT  ENLISTS  FOR  THE  WAR. 
His  COMMAND  MOVES  TO  BIRD'S  POINT,  MISSOURI. 

A    LITTLE  glance  at  the  general  plans  of  the  North 
and  the  South  will  be  necessary  to  understand  the 
movements  of  Colonel  Wallace  and  his  regiment  as 
spoken  of  in  his  letters. 

The  great  aim  of  the  contending  armies  was  to  protect 
their  respective  capitols,  Washington  and  Richmond,  from 
capture,  each  city  building  ample  fortifications  around  it 
self.  Each  held  its  own  in  the  four  years'  struggle,  but 
neither  gained  the  capitol  of  the  other,  although  the  con 
tinual  struggle  in  the  Peninsular  was  to  that  end.  But 
Lee  was  too  great  a  General  and  moving  on  his  own 
ground.  The  Northern  Generals  who  commanded,  from 
McClellan  on  would,  perhaps,  ably  plan  a  campaign  to  have 
it  countermanded  by  the  authorities  at  Washington;  hence, 
in  the  East  very  little  was  gained;  but  in  the  West  it  was 
different,  as  were  also  the  strategic  measures  different. 
"The  Confederates  desired  to  make  the  border  slave  States, 
such  as  Maryland,  Northern  and  Western  Virginia,  Ken 
tucky,  Northern  Arkansas  and  Missouri,  the  battle  ground 
of  the  war,  hence  can  be  seen  the  reasons  for  the  invasion 
of  Kentucky,  together  with  the  movements  of  General 
Price  and  his  associates  in  Arkansas  and  Missouri.  This 
was  to  secure  the  command  of  the  Cumberland,  Tennessee 
and  Mississippi  rivers  by  means  of  the  fortifications  of 
Henry,  Donelson,  Columbus,  and  Island  No.  10.  It  was 
considered  important  in  the  beginning  of  the  war  by  both 
parties  to  get  possession  of  the  great  rivers,  because  troops 
could  be  transported  much  easier  by  water  than  by  land. 
The  Confederates  saw  if  they  could  establish  themselves  at 
Cairo  in  Illinois  on  the  point  between  the  Ohio  and  Missis 
sippi,  they  could  keep  the  Unionists  from  coming  down  the 
Ohio  and  going  up  the  Mississippi,  which,  below  that  point, 
ran  wholly  through  slave  States.  But  the  Federalists  were 

[115] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

also  alive  to  the  importance  of  the  place  and  were  ahead  of 
them,  establishing  a  camp  there  in  May,  1861,  of  several 
thousand  men,  throwing  up  earthworks  mounted  with  heavy 
cannon  commanding  both  rivers. 

"The  Confederates,  thus  foiled,  made  plans  for  the  cap 
ture  of  Cairo.  So  in  September,  1861,  General  Polk  seized 
Hickman  and  Columbus  on  the  Kentucky  side  of  the  river, 
but  twenty  miles  distant  from  Cairo.  Kentucky  had  re 
mained  neutral. 

"The  Confederates  built  two  strong  forts  in  Tennessee 
just  below  the  border  of  Kentucky  on  the  Cumberland  and 
Tennessee  rivers,  eighty  and  ninety  miles  above  their 
mouths,  Henry  and  Donelson,  to  prevent  the  Federals  from 
securing  these  rivers,  and  with  them  Kentucky  and  Tennes 
see,  so  their  capture  was  of  great  importance  to  the  North 
ern  side." 

In  the  latter  part  of  May  Colonel  Wallace  made  a  hur 
ried  trip  to  Washington  City.  On  his  return  he  wrote  his 
wife  of  passing  through  all  the  lines  beyond  the  river,  and 
how  war-like  it  looked,  and  also  of  his  errand  there: 

"CAMP  HARDIN,  June  2d,  1861. 

"I  had  a  very  hurried  and  exciting  trip  to  Washington. 
I  went  to  Alexandria  and  Arlington  Heights,  saw  many 
Illinois  friends,  all  of  whom  congratulated  me.  I  can  now 
tell  you  the  object  of  my  visit.  General  Prentiss  had  ten 
dered  his  brigade  of  three  months'  men  for  the  war,  and 
sent  me  on  to  urge  its  acceptance,  in  which  I  was  success 
ful.  If  not  more  than  one-fifth  of  the  men  in  the  regiments 
decline  to  go  for  the  war  the  regiments  will  be  mustered 
into  service  for  the  war.  I  think  my  regiment  will  be  al 
most  unanimous. 

"I  know,  dear  Ann,  what  your  first  feeling  will  be,  but  a 
little  reflection  will  satisfy  you  that  the  step  I  have  taken 
is  not  only  right,  but  one  that  I  could  not  avoid.  The  coun 
try  demands  the  service  of  her  citizens  in  the  field.  Our 
regiments  are  the  best  drilled  and  the  nearest  ready  for  ef 
ficient  service  of  any  in  the  State.  Being  thus  situated  and 
having  the  opportunity  of  going  into  the  service  for  the 

[116] 


AUTOGRAPH  CARDS  OF  WARD  H.  LAMON  AND  A.  LINCOLN, 

INTRODUCING   COLONEL   WALLACE   WHILE    IN 

WASHINGTON  ON  MILITARY  AFFAIRS, 

MAY.    1861 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

war,  we  would  justly  and  doubtless  receive  censure  of  all 
loyal  people  should  we  decline. 

"The  impulses  of  patriotism  and  the  desire  for  distinc 
tion  in  the  war — the  two  great  incentives  to  a  soldier's  call 
ing — lead  us  to  accept  the  place  opened  for  us — the  other 
considerations  I  have  mentioned  impel  us  to  do  so.  The 
personal  sacrifice  of  the  endearments  of  home  is  already 
partially  made,  and  I  hope  by  this  course  to  aid  in  render 
ing  those  endearments  enduring.  All  business  of  a  civil 
nature  is  stagnant  and  the  whole  life  and  energy  of  the  Na 
tion  is  poured  into  this  war.  My  position  is  such  that  I 
cannot  if  I  would,  decline  to  enter  the  path  opened  before 
me.  My  duty  as  a  citizen  and  a  patriot — my  true  duty  to 
you,  dear,  requires  that  I  should  not  leave  the  service  of 
the  country  at  this  time.  I  trust  that  the  stupendous  prepar 
ations  now  making  will  bring  an  early  end  to  this  miserable 
treason  and  ere  many  months  the  slumbering  loyalty  of 
the  seceded  States  will,  under  the  influence  of  the  present 
blaze  of  patriotism,  reassert  itself,  and  replant  the  flag  of 
the  Union  and  re-establish  the  Constitution  everywhere 
throughout  the  Republic.  Then,  when  we  have  again  a 
country  to  be  proud  of,  when  we  can  feel  that  we  are  safe 
under  the  protection  of  the  old  Constitution,  when  we  can 
lie  down  satisfied  that  the  Government  has  the  power  and 
will  to  protect  us  in  our  persons,  our  homes,  and  our  all, 
we  may  turn  from  the  pursuits  of  arms  and  enjoy  the  de 
lights  of  peace.  *  *  *  *  I  send  by  Mrs.  T.  C.  Gibson 
a  specimen  of  a  pattern  for  a  havelock,  a  linen  cap  cover 
and  cape  for  soldiers'  caps,  named  in  honor  of  the  British 
General  in  India.  These  (the  pattern  and  specimen)  I  pro 
cured  from  Mrs.  Willard  of  Willard's  Hotel  in  Washing 
ton.  I  wish  you  would,  by  subscription  or  otherwise,  pro 
cure  linen  and  make  up  as  many  as  you  and  the  ladies  of 
Ottawa  conveniently  can  for  my  command,  and  say  to  the 
ladies  that  their  kindness  already  shown  assures  us  that  we 
may  confidently  draw  on  them  for  any  such  things  which 
will  contribute  to  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers.  The  soldiers 
I  saw  at  Washington  were  nearly  all  supplied  with  them, 
and  they  were  a  great  protection  from  the  heat  and  dust. 
*  *  *  *  Yesterday  I  received  a  most  delightful  sur- 

[117] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

prise.  Captain  W.  L.  Gibson  received  a  trunk  and  on  open 
ing  it  he  found  a  package  for  me.  It  was  little  Blossom's 
dear  face,  bless  her  dear  eyes  and  sweet  mouth,  how  I 
would  love  to  see  her  and  her  dear  mamma  this  afternoon. 
I  hung  the  picture  up  in  headquarters,  and  it  there  now 
represents  the  daughter  of  the  regiment." 

In  answer  to  Colonel  Wallace's  letter  about  his  trip  to 
Washington  and  going  into  the  service  for  the  war,  Mrs. 
Wallace  writes: 

"THE  OAKS,  OTTAWA,  June  4,  1861. 

«*  *  *  *  jn  vour  letter  you  tell  me  you  are  in  the 
service  for  the  war  and  give  me  some  of  the  reasons  why 
it  is  so.  Dear  one !  my  knowledge  of  you  and  of  our  cause 
told  me  this  would  surely  be  the  result.  It  does  not  surprise 
me  *  *  *  *  The  separation  is  very  hard.  God  has 
given  me  courage  and  I  trust  will  give  it  me  for  the  fu 
ture  to  let  you  go  cheerfully.  Living  from  day  to  day  on 
the  dear  words  of  cheer  you  send  me  in  your  letters  and 
hoping  all  may  yet  be  well  with  our  country  and  you,  Will 
Wallace,  I  will  try  to  be  a  true  soldier's  wife  and  bear  my 
part  in  this  work  bravely." 

In  answer  to  Colonel  Wallace's  request  for  havelocks, 
the  ladies  of  Ottawa  immediately  set  to  work  with  sewing 
bees  and  havelock  socials  to  raise  money  and  soon  all  of 
the  soldiers  of  Colonel  Wallace's  command  were  supplied 
with  them.  In  the  following  letter  Mrs.  Wallace  tells  of 
the  work  in  connection  with  making  these  havelocks  or  linen 
cap  covers  that  were  needed  to  protect  the  necks  of  the  men 
from  the  sun. 

"THE  OAKS,  June  29,  1861. 

"Oh!  my  husband,  I  am  so  glad  to  write  to  you  again. 
I  know  you  will  have  wondered  at  my  silence  for  the  last 
four  days.  I  have  been  acting  Colonel  as  far  as  being  busy 
is  concerned.  I  have  been  getting  those  havelocks  made.  I 
supposed  you  wanted  about  five  hundred.  We,  that  is  the 
Ottawa  ladies,  had  already  made  for  three  companies.  Ot 
tawa  has  sent  five  companies  into  the  service  and  contribu 
ted  largely  to  equip  them. 

[118] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"On  Monday  morning  I  set  out  early  to  begin  the  work. 
I  knew  it  would  take  a  good  deal  of  energy  on  my  part  and 
perhaps  I  should  fail.  I  knew  almost  everybody  that  felt 
inclined  to  help  furnish  the  means  had  already  given  more 
than  they  were  able.  But  I  thought  of  your  men  drilling  in 
that  hot  sun  and  that  probably  the  effort  on  my  part  would 
add  so  much  to  their  comfort  and  health.  So  I  began  it. 

"I  first  looked  about  for  the  material  and  found  it  at 
Mr.  Halbert's.  He  was  willing  to  let  me  have  it  at  cost 
and  wait  until  the  ladies  collected  the  money  for  his  pay. 
It  would  probably  amount  to  seventy  or  eighty  dollars. 

"Then  I  got  the  opinion  of  a  number  of  gentlemen  as 
to  the  chance  of  our  being  able  to  raise  the  money  in  the 
course  of  the  summer.  Many  said  they  thought  we  could 
but  did  not  like  to  say  to  me  'go  on.'  Others  (Mr.  Cook, 
Mr.  Nash,  Mr.  Mills  and  others)  said  they  did  not  want 
to  discourage  me  but  all  that  would  give  had  done  all  they 
would  already,  that  the  men's  own  neighborhoods  ought  to 
supply  them.  We  had  supplied  our  own,  that  was  enough. 
I  said  the  men  were  there  without  the  havelocks.  I  said 
you  would  not  have  made  the  request  if  you  had  seen  any 
chance  of  their  being  supplied  from  any  other  source.  That 
the  Ottawa  people  had  done  a  great  deal  and  they  would 
never  be  ashamed  of  it.  I  said  those  companies  were  prob 
ably  from  scattered  neighborhoods  where  their  home  folks 
did  not  get  together  as  we  could  in  our  towns.  At  any 
rate,  the  men  were  there  in  the  sun;  they  had  given  their 
time  and  risked  their  lives  for  the  service  and  we  ought  to 
make  the  sacrifice  of  a  little  more  effort  to  ensure  their 
health.  Besides,  the  safety  of  our  own  men  depended  in  a 
great  measure  upon  the  efficiency  of  those  they  were  associ 
ated  with.  Mr.  Thorne,  Mr.  Warner,  Mr.  Edward  Eames, 
Judge  Champlain  and  Pa  encouraged  me  and  said  I  had 
better  risk  it,  and  that  with  my  own  inclination  settled  it, 
and  I  got  the  material  Monday  noon.  I  telegraphed  to  you 
telling  you  that  the  work  was  begun,  and  asked  how  many 
you  needed.  I  thought  perhaps,  since  I  had  heard  in  the 
meantime,  you  might  have  got  some  of  the  companies  sup 
plied  from  their  homes.  If  so,  we  would  not  need  so  much 
material. 

[119] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"I  got  some  of  the  cloth  and  got  some  of  the  ladies  to 
gether  cutting  it  out,  thinking  I  would  receive  an  answer 
by  night  or  early  next  morning.  I  stopped  the  cutting  at 
four  hundred  until  I  should  get  an  answer,  which  did  not 
come  until  Monday  evening.  We  found  we  had  cut  more 
than  you  needed.  We  have  enough  to  furnish  Captain 
Reed's  German  company  at  Alton,  which  we  have  sent  to 
them,  and  will  have  some  over  for  the  Irish  company.  We 
will  send  yours  on  Monday  by  Mr.  Gregg. 

"There  were  lots  of  willing  hearts  and  hands  for  the 
work.  They  went  at  it  with  a  cheerful  enthusiasm  that 
was  very  pleasant.  Twelve  ladies  in  different  parts  of  town 
gathered  in  their  neighbors  around  a  sewing  machine  and 
the  work  was  done. 

"All  well  at  home.  I  will  write  more  of  ourselves  next 
time.  ANN  WALLACE/' 

A  few  extracts  are  given  from  Mrs.  Wallace's  letters, 
showing  what  the  women  were  enduring  at  home  with  sol 
dier  husbands  far  away.  She  writes  on  June  21st  when  her 
husband  had  moved  to  Bird's  Point,  opposite  Cairo,  on  the 
Missouri  side  of  the  river,  and  was  in  more  danger : 

"I  cannot  keep  the  thought  of  your  great  danger  out  of 
my  mind.  Busy  as  I  have  to  be,  I  am  thinking  of  it  every 
moment.  A  prayer  for  you  is  in  my  heart  all  the  time. 
Oh!  Will,  Will,  this  waiting  and  watching  and  fearing  is 
dreadful.  Forgive  me,  darling,  this  was  on  paper  almost 
before  I  knew  it.  You  have  enough  anxiety  of  your  own 
without  mine  being  added  to  it.  *  *  *  *  You  are  all 
the  world  to  me,  dearest.  How  can  I  do  without  you.  God 
has  given  me  a  cheerful  spirit.  Do  not  think  of  me  as  de 
sponding.  I  do  try  to  be  a  brave  woman  most  of  the  time, 
but  I  cannot  help  but  be  your  longing,  loving  wife,  even  if 
you  are  a  soldier. 

"The  young  folks  and  I  have  just  returned  from  attend 
ing  a  floral  concert  by  children.  During  the  evening  the 
Star  Spangled  Banner  was  sung  and  then  repeated  by  the 
desire  of  the  audience.  All  the  hope  and  prayer  and  exulta 
tion  of  that  almost  worshiped  song  is  in  my  mind  blended 

[120] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

with  you.  'Thus  be  it  ever/  etc.  are  no  mere  words,  but  a 
heartfelt  prayer  from  many  earnest  lips  to-night.  How 
our  hearts  swell  and  sink  at  the  news  of  the  triumphs  and 
defeats  of  the  troops  of  the  last  few  days.  There  are  so 
many  heavy  hearts  to-day  over  the  sad  news  from  Manas- 
sas.  If  this  terrible  news  is  true,  (the  uncertainty  of  the 
telegraph  makes  me  hope  even  yet)  how  it  will  lengthen  the 
war.  Oh !  Will !  can  we  bear  it  ?  We  can  and  will  by  God's 
help."  She  again  writes : 

"You  say  I  must  not  draw  such  tempting  pictures  of 
home.  I  did  not  intend  to  trouble  you  in  that  way.  What 
else  shall  I  write  about?  Home  is  not  a  very  pleasant 
place  when  you  are  not  in  it.  I  will  try  not  to  write  any 
thing  that  will  make  it  hard  for  you  to  be  a  good  soldier. 
If  it  is  not  worth  a  thought,  what  would  be  the  use  of 
fighting  for  it.  You  can  be  all  the  better  soldier  for  being  a 
little  homesick.  I  am  just  selfish  enough  to  want  you  to 
think  of  home  and  the  wife  very,  very  often,  and  if  you 
cannot  come  to  them,  I  would  feel  badly  if  I  did  not  think 
you  would  regret  it ;  but  darling,  do  not  think  that  I  would 
have  you  jeopardize  the  cause  you  are  enlisted  in  for  any 
present  pleasure  to  yourself  or  me.  Your  letters  before 
this  made  me  hope  I  would  see  you  at  home  for  a  little 
while  soon,  but  in  the  last  you  do  not  seem  to  have  thought 
of  such  a  thing.  That,  with  the  telegraph  dispatches  speak 
ing  of  the  rebels  landing  below  you,  has  spoiled  my  bright 
anticipations  in  a  measure.  I  have  no  heart  to  write  you 
because  I  do  wish  to  see  you  and  talk  to  you.  *  *  *  * 
Although  my  desire  to  see  you  is  intense,  still  if  it  is  best 
for  you  not  to  come,  I  can  bear  it,  as  well  as  you  can.  Do 
not  let  the  fear  of  my  disappointment  add  anything  to  your 
burden.  What  a  happy  woman  I  would  be  if  I  could  lighten 
your  load  of  care  even  a  little  for  you. 

"You  say  you  pray  for  me  to  be  blessed  as  I  deserve. 
Do  not  pray  so.  My  blessings  would  be  few  if  that  was 
their  measure.  God  is  very  good  to  me.  We  will  praise 
Him  together.  He  has  given  me  the  devoted  love  of  the 
noblest  and  best  man  I  ever  knew,  and  given  me  a  heart 
to  prize  it." 

[121] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

The  husband  writes:  "How  richly  you  deserve  a  coun 
try  and  a  husband!  God  grant  that  both  may  be  restored 
to  you  soon !  *  *  *  *  Around  you,  dear  wife,  cluster 
all  the  dearest  rewards  and  hopes  that  fancy  pictures  as  the 
compensation  for  success  in  our  stern  endeavor.  May  God 
in  His  great  mercy  keep  us  both  till  our  country's  cause 
permits  us  to  come  together  again  amid  the  pleasures  of 
an  honorable  peace.  *  *  *  *  Know  always  that  you 
are  the  priestess  presiding  at  the  altar  of  home,  that  altar 
to  which  next  to  my  Maker  I  turn  with  the  most  reverence, 
devotion  and  love." 

On  June  19th  Colonel  Wallace's  command  was  ordered 
to  Bird's  Point,  Missouri,  opposite  Cairo,  then  the  most  ad 
vanced  part  of  the  army  in  that  part  of  the  country.  Here 
Colonel  Wallace  was  put  in  command  of  the  post,  having 
besides  his  own  regiment  another  regiment,  seven  guns,  140 
artillerymen,  and  a  detachment  of  cavalry.  His  duties  were 
naturally  very  arduous  and  exacting,  as  he  writes : 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  Mo.,  July  llth,  1861. 
«*  *  *  *  fne  busmess  of  re-organizing  the  regi 
ment  for  the  three  years'  service,  (one  of  the  most  compli 
cated  and  perplexing  things  ever  attempted),  the  attention 
necessarily  required  by  persons  coming  in  from  the  country 
claiming  protection  as  Union  men,  the  general  supervision 
of  the  command,  the  constant  increasing  series  of  new  and 
difficult  questions  to  meet  and  decide,  the  attention  neces 
sary  to  be  shown  to  visitors  from  the  North,  of  whom  there 
appears  to  be  a  legion,  the  alarms  at  night  by  firing  of  the 
guards,  making  it  necessary  as  a  matter  of  precaution  to 
turn  out  the  command  under  arms  and  dispose  of  them  so 
as  to  meet  any  attack  which  might  be  made — these,  added 
to  the  ordinary  duties  of  the  regiment,  have  kept  me  more 
than  usually  busy." 

To  show  something  of  the  duties  of  a  Post  Commander 
and  his  Adjutant  or  Secretary,  a  letter  is  here  given  from 
Cyrus  Dickey,  who  was  adjutant  to  General  Ransom,  then 
Commandant  of  the  Post,  to  his  sister,  Mrs.  Wallace,  from 

[122] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Natchez,  Mississippi,  on  August  7,  1863,  10  p.  M.  *  *  * 
"I  have  attempted  occasionally  to  answer  your  letter,  but 
have  given  it  up  in  despair  on  account  of  the  annoying  in 
terruptions.  It  is  utterly  impossible  to  attend  to  the  duties 
of  a  post  and  write  a  consecutive  letter  at  the  same  time. 
In  civil  life  I  don't  believe  any  man  ever  attempted  the 
variety  of  duties  which  devolve  through  his  Adjutant  on  a 
Post  Commander. 

"For  instance,  I  was  waked  up  this  morning  at  daylight 
by  an  application  of  a  Dutchman  who  had  got  tired  of  the 
Southern  Confederacy  and  wanted  to  get  transportation 
for  himself  and  family  to  the  quiet  North.  I  advised  him 
to  wait  until  business  hours  and  fell  asleep  again.  Scarcely 
asleep  when  a  request  came  from  the  Post  Quartermaster 
for  a  steamboat  and  guard  and  a  detail  of  negroes  for  a 
foraging  expedition  down  the  river  on  the  Louisiana  shores. 
I  got  up  and  wrote  the  necessary  orders  without  dressing, 
and  by  this  time  I  was  wide  awake,  went  upstairs  and  took 
a  bath,  came  down  and  found  two  negroes  who  had  come 
to  complain  that,  'Ellett's  Horse  Marines/  who  had  landed 
in  the  night,  had  come  up  into  town  and  forcibly  taken 
from  each  of  them  a  cart  load  of  vegetables  and  chickens 
just  brought  in  to  sell  to  the  soldiers.  I  turned  the  negroes 
over  to  the  public  guard;  and  sat  down  to  write  an  order 
to  send  out  fifteen  miles  into  the  country  to  Colonel  Coates 
in  command  of  a  force  guarding  and  hauling  C.  S.  A.  cot 
ton.  Was  interrupted  in  the  midst  of  it  by  a  modest  little 
boy  who  wanted  an  order  to  purchase  some  ice  from  the 
government  for  a  sick  mother — which  I  couldn't  give  him. 

"General  Lee  came  down  to  inquire  what  were  the  po 
litical  sentiments  of  Mr.  Lurget,  whose  house  he  had  taken 
a  fancy  to  occupy  for  his  headquarters,  providing  the  resi 
dent  was  a  rebel.  Breakfast  was  announced  and  General 
Lee  sat  down  with  us,  amusing  us  meantime  with  an  ac 
count  of  his  interview  with  the  Mr.  Lurget  before  men 
tioned,  while  looking  over  his  premises  with  a  view  of  es 
tablishing  his  headquarters  there.  'General  Lee,  what  State 
are  you  from?'  'Kansas,  sir.'  'Aye,  what  was  your  regi 
ment?'  'Jennison's  Jayhawkers,  sir.'  'Have  you  any  of 
these  Kansas  men  with  you  here?'  'Yes,  about  one  hun- 

[123] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

dred,  and  would  like  stable  room  for  them ;  how  are  you  off 
for  stables?'  'What!  You  don't  mean  to  bring  these  men 
into  my  landscape  garden,  do  you?'  'If  I  establish  my 
quarters  here  I  will  camp  them  near  me.'  'Have  you  any 
control  over  these  men?'  'Very  little.'  Lee  left  him  in 
great  apprehension. 

"After  breakfast  the  office  was  full  of  men,  boys  and 
some  negroes,  all  wanting  some  relief  or  information.  A 
speculator  wanted  to  know  whether  he  would  be  permitted 
to  go  into  the  country  and  purchase  cotton ;  a  New  Orleans 
man,  if  he  would  be  permitted  to  bring  up  and  sell  family 
supplies  to  the  citizens;  a  government  contractor  attached 
to  the  revenue  department,  whether  the  military  would  help 
him  to  secure  abandoned  cotton ;  an  indignant  citizen  want 
ed  some  compulsory  process  to  make  the  negroes  haul  wood 
to  market;  another  complained  that  the  soldiers  monopo 
lized  the  vegetable  market  and  that  citizens  were  compelled 
to  live  on  corn-bread  in  consequence;  a  negro  wanted  to 
get  back  his  wagon  which  had  been  pressed  to  haul  C.  S.  A. 
cotton  to  town;  an  old  woman,  whose  husband  was  in  the 
penitentiary  for  manslaughter,  wanted  to  have  us  get  back 
from  her  lawyers  her  house  which  they  had  taken  for  a 
fee  four  years  ago. 

"A  respectable  delegation  of  planters  had  called  to  see 
if  some  arrangements  could  not  be  effected  to  get  the  ne 
groes  to  go  back  to  the  plantations  and  save  the  crops.  A 
dashing  widow  drove  in  with  a  splendid  carriage  drawn  by 
a  pair  of  scrawny  mules  to  pray  that  her  carriage  horses, 
which  had  been  seized  by  mounted  infantry,  could  be 
returned  to  her;  an  elderly  lady,  with  a  brace  of  blooming 
daughters,  wished  permission  to  purchase  from  the  com 
missary  half  a  pound  of  tea  and  a  little  flour  as  luxuries  for 
a  sick  father.  Two  negroes  came  in  out  of  breath  to  report 
that  the  guerrillas  over  on  the  Louisiana  side  were  burning 
cotton  and  shooting  all  the  negroes  who  refused  to  go  to 
Texas.  Mrs.  Nichols  came  in  with  a  basket  of  luscious 
pears,  peaches,  figs  and  grapes  and  a  request  that  her  own 
riding  horse  may  be  returned  which  was  taken  to  mount  in 
fantry  on. 

"Mr.  Lurget  sends  his  compliments  with  a  huge  demi- 

[124] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

John  of  old  sherry,  which  has  been  in  his  garret  for  twenty- 
six  years,  and  follows  it  up  with  a  request  that  General  Lee 
may  be  persuaded  not  to  select  his  house  as  quarters.  Cap 
tain  Smith  reports  that  he  has  four  thousand  and  five  hun 
dred  negroes  in  his  camp  of  contrabands  without  a  doctor, 
and  some  are  sick ;  that  the  Horse  Marines  insult  his  negro 
camp  guards  and  overrun  his  camp ;  an  indignant  old  negro 
preacher  came  in  to  complain  that  the  Major  had  refused 
to  open  the  Methodist  church  for  him  to  hold  prayer  meet 
ings  in ;  a  sour  old  maid  comes  to  inquire  if  we  will  not 
send  letters  North  for  her  without  inspecting  them.  The 
General  tells  me  that  I  must  at  once  shut  myself  up  in  the 
back  room  and  prepare  an  order  to  regulate  the  'Jayhawk- 
ers'  and  'Horse  Marines/  also  some  dispatches  for  Depart 
ment  headquarters  for  a  boat  that  is  waiting.  This  is  the 
general  style  of  business  this  firm  is  transacting  and  has 
been  and  expects  to  be  for  some  time.  What  writing  I  do 
which  requires  any  logical  connection  or  arrangement  must 
be  done  after  night  or  locked  up  in  a  back  room  with  some 
one  trying  to  open  the  door  every  two  minutes.  I  break 
away  about  once  a  day  and  ride  away  out  into  the  country 
and  call  on  some  planters,  I  know  them  all,  whom  I  have 
met  in  the  office  before. 

"We,  Ransom  and  I,  still  hope  to  get  to  go  to  Illinois 
about  the  first  of  September.  Ransom  is  not  well  to-day, 
had  a  chill  of  ague,  not  serious,  but  improves  his  chance  for 
leave  of  absence." 

Captain  Dickey,  while  in  this  position,  was  able  to  do 
many  kindnesses  to  the  unprotected  ladies  whose  husbands, 
brothers  and  fathers  were  off  fighting  in  the  Confederate 
army.  Among  these  was  a  family  named  Winston.  Later 
in  the  war,  when  Captain  Dickey  was  shot  in  the  battle  of 
Sabine  Cross  Roads,  near  Shreveport,  Louisiana,  a  Major 
Winston,  a  son  and  brother  of  the  ladies  in  Natchez,  found 
him  on  the  field  mortally  wounded;  finding  from  some  pa 
pers  on  him  that  he  was  the  same  Captain  Dickey  who  had 
been  so  kind  to  his  mother  and  sisters,  had  him  taken  to  the 
hospital  and  cared  for  until  he  died,  five  days  after  the 
battle,  and  then  had  him  buried. 

[125] 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

GENERAL   FREMONT  TAKES   COMMAND  OF  WESTERN  DE 
PARTMENT.    LARGE  REBEL  FORCE  NEAR  BIRD'S  POINT. 

THE  South  started  the  contest,  having  the  advantage 
over  the  North  in  being  better  prepared  in  the  be 
ginning.  They  had  secretly  collected  arms  and  am 
munition  at  various  strong  points;  then  many  of  the  of 
ficers  in  the  United  States  Army  were  Southern  men  who 
left  its  ranks  to  join  the  cause  of  the  Southern  Confeder 
acy,  their  State  love  and  loyalty  being  stronger  than  that 
for  the  Union.  Thus  the  South  had  generals  of  experience 
from  the  beginning,  commanders  that  began  the  war  were 
the  same  that  continued  and  finished  it,  which  was  quite 
the  opposite  in  the  Northern  army.  There  was  no  general 
that  was  prominent  in  the  commencement  of  hostilities  that 
was  so  at  the  close  of  the  four  years'  struggle.  This  con 
stant  change  of  commanding  officers  was  a  great  detriment 
to  the  Union  cause  and  may  have  had  much  influence  in  de 
termining  the  lack  of  success  in  both  the  Eastern  and  West 
ern  Departments  in  the  early  part  of  the  war.  The  North 
ern  authorities  seemed  dazed,  not  comprehending  in  the  be 
ginning  the  great  seriousness  of  the  situation  and  did  not 
plan  and  execute  with  ability,  foresight  and  strength. 

"In  July,  1861,  as  Dr.  Eddy  writes,  "Major-General  Fre 
mont  was  given  the  command  of  the  Western  Department 
then  first  organized,  which  included  the  State  of  Illinois  and 
the  States  and  Territories  west  of  the  Mississippi  and  East 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  including  New  Mexico.  This  de 
partment  was  an  empire  in  itself,  with  an  enemy  threaten 
ing  in  many  directions.  Missouri,  on  the  verge  of  seceding, 
with  a  Governor  openly  for  the  Southern  cause,  declaring 
the  State  out  of  the  Union,  although  the  people  of  the  State 
declared  to  the  contrary.  War  raged  within  its  borders. 

"In  Western  Missouri  the  gallant  Lyon,  with  scarcely 
three  thousand  five  hundred  men,  was  confronting  McCul- 
loch,  Price  and  Jackson  with  twenty  to  thirty  thousand.  In 

[126] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

southeastern  Missouri  it  was  equally  gloomy.  Cairo,  Bird's 
Point,  Ironton  and  Cape  Gerardeau  were  held  by  Union 
forces  with  scarcely  seven  thousand  men,  and  at  New  Ma 
drid  General  Pillow  held  a  Southern  force  of  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  thousand  with  a  supply  of  excellent  artillery  and 
cavalry  and  was  moving  on  Bird's  Point.  Hardee  was 
moving  on  Ironton  with  three  thousand  infantry  and  two 
thousand  cavalry.  Another  large  force  under  Jeff  Thomp 
son  was  at  Bloomfield. 

"The  odds  against  Fremont  were  tremendous.  He  was 
expected  to  raise,  organize  and  discipline  his  forces  and 
also  to  divide  the  Southern  Confederacy  by  descending  the 
Mississippi  river  from  the  Lakes  to  the  Gulf.  His  plans 
were  well  laid  and  later  followed,  but  after  he  had  been 
superseded." 

Had  he  been  given  a  better  chance  with  time  to  work  out 
his  plans  many  lives,  labor  and  treasure  might  not  have 
been  needlessly  sacrificed  at  the  altar  of  inexperience  re 
sulting  from  the  frequent  changes  of  commanding  officers. 

There  were  rumors  of  a  large  rebel  force  in  the  neigh 
borhood  of  Bird's  Point,  which  the  capture  of  the  two  fol 
lowing  letters  from  the  rebel  Generals,  Pillow  and  Hardee, 
confirmed. 

"HEADQUARTERS  OF  ARMY  OF  LIBERATION, 

"NEW  MADRID,  July  31,  1861. 
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JEFF  THOMPSON: 

"I  have  pleasure  in  acknowledging  the  reception  of  your 
communication  of  the  31st  inst.  I  am  gratified  with  the 
spirit  and  determination  expressed  in  it.  Since  my  dis 
patch  to  you  I  have  ascertained  that  the  enemy's  forces  are 
concentrating  at  Cape  Gerardeau.  It  will  be  absolutely  nec 
essary  that  we  unite  our  forces  at  some  point,  and  if  you 
can  cross  the  swamp  to  Sikeston  I  would  advance  a  por 
tion  of  my  force  to  that  place  and  make  a  depot  of  supplies 
at  it  until  I  have  collected  sufficient  transportation  to  move 
the  whole  column. 

"We  must  have  a  depot  of  supplies  and  we  must  unite 
our  forces.  We  shall  have  a  fight  at  the  Cape.  This  being 
settled  as  a  necessity,  and  as  our  settled  policy,  you  can 

[127] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

shape  your  movements  accordingly  and  take  such  route  as 
your  knowledge  of  the  country  may  enable  you  to  deter 
mine  as  best.  It  is  more  important  that  you  should  make 
Sikeston  in  order  that  I  may  provide  you  with  ammunition 
and  caps,  of  which  I  have  understood  you  are  in  need.  Inde 
pendent  of  this  we  are  fitting  a  field  battery  for  your  bri 
gade  and  you  must  place  yourself  in  position  to  take  charge 
of  it.  It  is  important  that  we  threaten  Bird's  Point  and  that 
the  enemy  be  led  to  believe  that  to  be  our  point  of  attack, 
and  you  had  better  give  out  that  idea. 

"You  will  please  keep  me  advised  of  your  movement.  I 
will  advise  you  of  the  probable  time  of  advance.  I  shall 
probably  place  Colonel  Walker's  regiment  as  the  supporting 
force  for  the  battery  I  am  constructing  at  this  place. 

"Gn>.  J.  PILLOW,  General  Commanding." 
****** 

To  General  Jeff  Thompson,  Bloomfield. 

"Friday  night  at  Kitheds." 
"GENERAL  : 

"I  sent  you  a  dispatch  this  afternoon  inviting  your  co 
operation  in  a  movement  on  the  enemy  encamped  beyond 
Greenfield.  Fearing  that  communication  may  not  reach  you 
I  write  again. 

"My  command  encamps  to-night  at  Reve's  Station  and 
to-morrow  night  will  reach  Greenville.  It  is  important  you 
should  unite  your  forces  with  mine  without  delay.  I  want 
particularly  to  have  a  personal  interview  with  you  before 
the  battle  commences.  Hurry  forward.  If  possible,  throw 
a  part  of  your  force  in  rear  of  the  enemy. 

"WM.  J.  HARDEE,  Brigadier-General." 

These  rumors  of  a  large  rebel  force  near  the  camp  and 
amid  the  reorganization  of  the  regiments  for  the  three 
years'  service,  when  there  was  more  or  less  disorganization, 
was  very  disquieting,  as  they  were  badly  situated  for  an 
attack.  Colonel  Wallace  writes  to  his  wife  from  Bird's 
Point,  Missouri,  on  August  2d,  1861 : 

"To  feel  that  the  responsibility  of  a  battle  was  upon  me 
without  adequate  means  to  meet  the  emergency  gave  me 

[128] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

great  anxiety.  For  more  than  ten  days  past  I  have  not 
taken  off  my  clothes  at  night  and  have  slept  very  little. 
But  to-night  I  breathe  freer.  General  Fremont  arrived  this 
afternoon  with  eight  steamboats  loaded  with  Federal  troops 
and  munitions,  inspiring  us  all  with  a  hopeful  feeling. 

"The  General  landed  about  5  o'clock,  and  I  had  a  very 
interesting  interview  of  an  hour  with  him  and  was  pleased 
to  find  that  the  course  I  had  taken  met  his  approbation. 
His  manner  and  tone  inspired  me  with  the  conviction  that 
he  is  the  right  man  in  the  right  place." 

On  August  5th  Colonel  Wallace  again  writes : 
"Since  I  wrote  you  General  Fremont  has  brigaded  the 
forces  at  Cairo  and  Bird's  Point,  making  General  Prentiss 
acting  General  of  division  and  placing  me  in  command  of 
the  brigade  here,  so  that  your  poor  husband  is  now  an  act 
ing  General  in  command  of  the  most  important  point  in  the 
West.  You  hardly  expected  that  you  would  ever  be  'Mrs. 
General  Wallace,'  but  such  you  are  in  fact.  Don't  you  feel 
proud?  You  will  scarcely  believe  me,  but  it  is  true,  that  I 
would  gladly  lay  down  the  honors  of  command  could  an 
honorable  peace  permit  my  return  to  you  and  the  delights 
of  our  home. 

"The  position  I  now  hold  was  not  sought  by  me.  Indeed, 
I  dreaded  its  responsibilities  with  my  self-consciousness  of 
inexperience  in  its  tremendous  duties.  And  when  I  felt 
that  it  was  coming  I  earnestly  prayed  God  to  give  me  wis 
dom  and  strength  to  fulfill  its  requirements  in  a  just  and 
proper  manner.  Pray  for  me,  dearest,  that  I  may  be  en 
abled  to  do  my  whole  duty,  to  God,  to  my  country,  and  to 
you." 

Mrs.  Wallace  answers  the  above  letter: 

"You  ask  me  if  I  am  not  proud.  I  am  no  more  so  than 
I  always  have  been.  I  just  think  others  are  finding  out 
what  I  have  known  so  long,  that  you  are  the  noblest,  brav 
est,  best  man  in  the  world." 

Colonel  Wallace  writes  on  August  6th : 
"I  had  hoped  to  see  you  soon,  but  you  know  as  well  as  I 
that  the  Colonel  of  the  Eleventh  and  the  acting  Brigadier- 

[129] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

General  cannot  leave  his  post  in  the  hour  of  danger.  The 
very  danger  that  you  seem  to  dread  makes  it  imperative  that 
I  should  remain  here.  Perhaps  your  consciousness  that  this 
was  so,  makes  it  the  more  to  be  feared  by  you.  But  seri 
ously,  I  don't  think  the  danger  is  much.  You  haven't  heard 
of  any  Brigadier-General  being  killed  on  our  side  in  this 
war,  have  you?  They  seem  to  have  a  much  greater  im 
munity  than  Colonels." 

The  woman  and  the  wife  makes  answer : 

"OTTAWA,  August  12th,  1861. 

"Your  letter  dated  the  6th  took  away  all  hope  of  my  see 
ing  you  here.  I  never  felt  so  sad  in  my  life.  I  am  very 
proud  to  know  that  you  have  been  so  trusted,  yet  my  poor 
heart  would  rather  have  you  a  private,  for  they  all  come 
home  for  a  little  while  at  least.  I  see  no  help  for  it  but  for 
you  to  let  me  come  to  you.  *  *  *  *  I  want  to  come 
so  badly.  I  am  afraid  I  shall  have  to  come  without  leave 
if  you  do  not  give  it  soon.  This  is  not  like  a  good  soldier's 
wife,  but  I  can't  help  it.  *  *  *  *  I  wish  you  knew 
what  a  comfort  and  delight  your  letters  have  been  to  me 
since  we  parted.  They  are  such  an  alleviation  of  the  sad, 
weary  days.  They  each  give  me  strength  and  fresh  courage 
to  take  bravely  the  trial  God  has  given  me.  If  I  could  see 
you  a  little  while  I  could  live  on  letters  such  a  long  time 
again." 

A  week  later  Colonel  Wallace  was  able  to  make  a  hur 
ried  trip  home,  and  spend  a  Sunday  with  his  family.  His 
wife  writes  the  day  after  his  return  of  the  joy  of  it: 

"OTTAWA,  ILL.,  August  21st,  1861. 

"Your  visit  was  so  unexpected  and  short  that  it  seems 
to  look  back  upon  as  a  happy,  happy  dream!  No  one  can 
tell  the  joy  of  it  until  they  have  known  the  anxious,  weary 
waiting  and  sad  disappointment  that  went  before.  I  will 
try  hard  not  to  let  myself  get  so  babyish  again." 

Colonel  Wallace  writes  from  his  post,  comparing  the 
Sunday  at  home  and  the  one  in  camp : 

[130] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  Mo.,  August  25,  1861. 
"It  is  Sunday  afternoon,  just  one  week  since  I  spent  that 
delightful  Sunday  with  you  in  your  quiet,  beautiful  home. 
How  different  the  situation  now.  There  all  was  serene, 
beautiful  and  peaceful — now  and  here,  although  quiet  for 
camp,  yet  on  every  hand  is  seen  the  grim  implements  of  de 
struction  and  the  stern  preparation  for  war.  The  few  brief 
hours  I  spent  at  home  seems  now  like  a  delightful  dream. 
But  I  am  glad,  very  glad  I  went  home,  if  it  was  but  for  a 
day.  I  shall  now  always  think  of  you  in  that  quiet,  pleasant 
home,  with  its  surroundings  of  beauty,  and  love  and  hope. 
Oh!  how  ardently  I  hope  that  I  may  soon  be  joined  again 
to  you  there.  Oh,  for  peace !  an  honorable  peace  that  would 
enable  me  to  return  permanently  to  you  and  the  enjoy 
ments  of  our  home.  God  grant  it  may  soon  come.  *  *  * 
But  'man  proposes  and  God  disposes/  In  His  hands  are 
the  destinies  of  nations,  and  He  in  His  wisdom  will  in  His 
own  good  time  and  for  His  own  wise  purpose  conduct  and 
close  this  war.  We,  as  humble  instruments,  have  but  to 
discharge  the  duties  we  have  in  hand  and  leave  the  issue  to 
Him." 

A  little  incident  of  camp  life  is  told  in  a  letter  of  August 
30,  1861,  from  Colonel  Wallace  to  his  wife,  which  probably 
was  a  common  occurrence  later  in  the  war. 

"I  have  had  quite  an  incident  to-day.  About  noon  the 
officer  of  the  day  brought  in  an  officer  in  a  strange  uniform, 
who  announced  himself  as  the  bearer  of  a  flag  of  truce  and 
a  letter  from  General  Pillow.  I  found  General  Pillow's 
letter  to  be  a  proposition  to  exchange  prisoners  and  intro 
ducing  the  bearer  of  the  flag  as  Lieutenant  Herndon  of  the 
Mississippi  cavalry.  He  appeared  a  very  gentlemanly  fel 
low,  and  of  course,  I  treated  him  civilly,  gave  him  his  din 
ner  and  detained  him  in  polite  confinement  while  I  went  to 
Cairo  to  consult  with  Colonel  Oglesby  in  command  there,  as 
to  the  subject  matter  of  General  Pillow's  communication. 
It  was  finally  determined  to  exchange  man  for  man  of  equal 
rank.  I  accordingly  wrote  a  letter  to  General  Pillow  to  that 
effect  and  sent  it,  with  a  list  of  prisoners  we  now  hold,  by 
one  of  my  Lieutenants,  Lieutenant  Tuft  of  Captain  Nole- 

[131] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

man's  cavalry,  who  accompanied  Lieutenant  Herndon  on 
his  return. 

"After  the  business  was  closed  and  the  papers  all  pre 
pared  I  rode  out  a  mile  or  two  with  the  party  on  their  re 
turn  and  talked  with  the  secession  officer  on  politics  and  the 
war.  He  was  a  stiff  secessionist,  but  we  didn't  quarrel. 
When  I  parted  with  him  we  shook  hands  and  he  expressed 
the  hope  that  we  might  meet  under  more  peaceful  circum 
stances. 

"During  the  first  interview  I  had  with  him  he  inquired 
after  one  of  the  prisoners  we  had  and  expressed  a  wish  to 
write  him  a  note,  informing  him  of  the  health  of  his  family 
and  friends.  I  told  him  he  could  do  so  and  I  would  see  it 
delivered.  I  took  it  over  to  Cairo,  and  after  getting  through 
with  my  business,  I  went  to  the  hospital  where  the  prisoner 
was  and  gave  him  the  letter.  He  took  it  and  commenced 
reading  it,  trembling  with  joy  and  excitement.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  same  company  and  seemed  overjoyed  to  get 
news  from  his  friends.  He  asked  if  he  could  write  a  note 
in  reply.  I  told  him  certainly  if  he  conveyed  no  informa 
tion  about  us.  He  accordingly  wrote  a  note  which  he  sub 
mitted  to  me,  and  in  it  he  asked  the  Lieutenant  to  send  him 
some  money.  I  delivered  the  note  and  when  the  Lieutenant 
was  about  starting  he  asked  me  to  take  charge  of  some 
money  for  'Frank,'  the  prisoner.  I  told  him  I  would  see 
that  it  was  carried  to  him.  He  took  out  two  $20  gold 
pieces  and  handed  them  to  me.  As  I  took  them,  I  re 
marked:  'You  haven't  discarded  the  Federal  coin  yet,  I 
see,  Lieutenant.'  He  smiled  and  seemed  perplexed,  but  an 
swered.  'No.' 

"I  don't  know  what  the  powers  that  be  will  say  about 
my  action  in  consenting  to  an  exchange  of  prisoners,  but  I 
am  satisfied  it  must  come  to  that,  and  I  am  willing  to  take 
the  responsibility.  I  shall  report  the  facts  and  correspon 
dence  to  General  Fremont  to-night." 

On  September  4th,  Colonel  Wallace  writes  that  he  had 
received  marching  orders,  and  was  all  ready  at  the  hour  des 
ignated,  "with  two  regiments,  two  companies  of  cavalry  and 
a  battery  of  four  guns,"  As  he  says :  "I  had  the  infantry 
and  cavalry  in  line  with  wagons  loaded  all  ready  for  a 

[132] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

march,  but  the  artillery  was  in  Cairo,  not  subject  to  my  im 
mediate  orders,  was  delayed  and  before  they  got  across  the 
river  my  marching  orders  were  countermanded,  and  we  are 
here  yet,  but  subject  to  march  on  an  hour's  notice." 

On  the  8th  he  writes  his  wife  that  their  intention  had 
been  for  the  march  into  the  interior : 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  Mo.,  September  8th,  1861 
*  *  *  *  "It  has  been  rather  a  busy  day.  This  morn 
ing  General  McClernand,  Colonel  Buford,  Colonel  Reardon 
and  Colonel  Lawler  came  over  and  I  rode  around  the  lines 
with  them.  About  the  time  they  left  a  boat  arrived  with  a 
battery  of  artillery  and  a  regiment  of  infantry  from  above. 
*  *  *  *  The  move  that  I  expected  to  have  made,  and 
which  has  unnecessarily  caused  you  uneasiness,  did  not  take 
place  and  probably  will  not,  so  I  may  as  well  tell  you  what 
it  was.  Take  a  map  of  Missouri  and  look  at  the  southeast 
portion  of  the  State.  Pillow  was  at  New  Madrid  pushing 
a  column  up  through  Sikeston  towards  Cape  Girardeau. 
Jeff  Thompson,  another  rebel  leader,  was  at  Benton  and 
Commerce,  with  a  body  of  Missouri  State  troops.  Hardee, 
another  rebel  General,  was  at  Greenville  with  another  army. 
General  Prentiss  was  at  Ironton  with  7,000  Federal  troops. 
There  were  about  3,000  Federal  troops  at  Cape  Girardeau. 
General  Prentiss  moved  from  Ironton  with  his  force  and 
was  to  be  joined  at  Jackson  by  the  forces  from  Cape  Girar 
deau  and  move  down  towards  Sikeston.  I  was  to  send  a 
regiment  to  Belmont,  opposite  Columbus  in  Kentucky,  and 
about  twenty  miles  from  here,  and  when  I  learned  that  Pren 
tiss  had  made  his  juncture  with  the  forces  at  the  Cape  and 
commenced  moving  on  Sikeston  I  was  to  move  to  Charleston 
with  two  infantry  regiments,  two  companies  of  cavalry  and 
a  battery  of  artillery  to  be  ready  to  co-operate  with  Prentiss 
should  the  enemy  make  a  stand  at  Sikeston.  The  regiment 
sent  to  Belmont  was  to  join  me  at  Charleston.  If  the  ene 
my  did  not  make  a  stand  at  Sikeston  we  were  to  follow  him 
to  New  Madrid  and  there  try  to  drive  him  from  Missouri. 
Prentiss'  column  reached  Jackson  and  were  there  joined 
by  the  Cape  Girardeau  forces,  but  some  question  of  rank 

[133] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

between  General  Prentiss  and  General  Grant,  who  was  in 
command  at  Cape  Girardeau,  threw  things  into  confusion 
and  the  column  did  not  move  from  Jackson  south.  I  sent 
the  regiment  to  Belmont  and  was  all  prepared,  packed  up 
and  loaded  so  far  as  my  limited  means  of  transportation 
would  allow,  and  had  my  men  in  line  to  start,  when  my 
marching  orders  were  countermanded.  In  the  meantime, 
the  rebel  forces  fell  back  to  New  Madrid  and  have  taken 
boat  and  gone  to  Columbus  in  Kentucky.  A  portion  of 
them  are  within  twenty  miles  on  this  side  of  the  river  oppo 
site  Columbus  and  we!  may  have  a  brush  with  them  yet, 
but  I  apprehend  we  will  not  move  on  them  at  once." 

The  anxious  wife  writes  on  September  5th : 

"I  find  it  very  hard,  in  fact,  almost  impossible  to  interest 
myself  in  this  company  and  this  fair.  My  heart  is  not  in 
it,  but  away  off  sharing  your  weary  camp  life,  bearing  your 
cares  and  perils." 

In  answer  the  patriot  husband  at  the  front  writes : 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  September  10th,  1861. 

"I  am  sorry  you  did  not  enjoy  the  fair.  Don't  let 
thoughts  of  me  prevent  your  enjoyment  of  matters  passing 
around  you.  //  /  am  successful  and  come  out  safely  it  is 
all  right.  If  I  fall  it  is  glory  enough  to  die  in  such  a  cause, 
and  furnishes  no  reason  for  regret.  Man  must  die  some 
time,  and  to  die  nobly  is  a  boon  granted  to  few.  Not  that 
I  am  tired  of  life,  dearest.  The  hope  of  spending  the  fu 
ture  with  you  makes  me  wish  for  long  life  more  than  ever; 
but  in  the  soldier's  existence  death  is  always  a  contingency 
that  must  be  regarded.  Of  course,  the  ordinary  chances  of 
life  are  diminished  in  such  a  calling  and  it  would  be  folly 
to  overlook  it.  You  may  rest  assured  *  *  *  *  that 
you  shall  have  no  occasion  to  blush  for  me  whatever  may 
befall. 

"We  are  in  the  midst  of  exciting  events.  The  occupa 
tion  of  Kentucky  by  the  belligerents  is  an  important  event, 
but  I  still  hope  that  the  share  Kentucky  may  be  called  upon 
to  act  in  the  drama  may  be  confined  to  her  western  borders. 

[134] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

A  large  force  of  rebels  have  occupied  Hickman  and  Colum 
bus.  Our  forces  occupy  Paducah  and  Fort  Holt  on  the 
Kentucky  shore  opposite  this  point.  The  rebels  also  have  a 
force  on  this  side  of  the  riven  some  fifteen  miles  below 
here,  and  we  have  advanced  a  portion  of  our  force  to  Nor 
folk,  five  miles  below  here,  so  that  our  lines  are  within 
ten  miles  of  each  other.  *  *  *  *  I  am  glad  this  sea 
son  of  comparative  inactivity  is  over.  The  sooner  we  get 
at  our  work  the  sooner  it  will  be  over." 

Some  further  extracts  are  given  from  Mrs.  Wallace's 
letters,  showing  the  woman's  side  in  the  cruel  war  which 
has  not  been  so  often  told  as  the  daring  deeds  of  the  men 
at  the  front: 

"OTTAWA,  September  9th,  1861. 

"Your  letters  give  me  new  courage  and  make  me  strong 
and  brave  for  my  woman's  work,  waiting  and  hoping.  What 
a  pleasant  picture  you  draw  of  the  end  of  it  all  when  God 
shall  have  given  us  peace  and  given  us  to  each  other  again. 
*  *  *  *  I  think  we  will  be  all  the  happier  for  the  cruel 
separation.  You  have  made  me  such  a  happy  woman  so 
many  years  I  can  afford  to  have  a  few  sad  days  and  then 
have  a  happier  lot  than  most  other  mortals. 

"This  separation  is  the  first  real  trial  that  we  have  had. 
Maybe  we  needed  it  to  remind  us  that  perfect  happiness  can 
not  be  known  to  sinners  in  chis  world.  Our  life  together 
has  been  very,  very  nearly  perfect  happiness.  If  it  had  not 
been  interrupted  we  might  have  forgotten  to  strive  for 
heaven." 

"OTTAWA,  September  10th,  1861. 

"I  seem  very  near  you  in  church.  We  have  joined  our 
hearts  and  voices  so  ofcen  together  there.  Almost  every 
petition  seems  to  be  made  in  your  behalf  or  in  my  own  by 
the  whole  congregation.  God  will  answer  such  earnest 
prayers,  perhaps  not  in  the  manner  that  we  look  for,  but  it 
surely  cannot  be  in  vain." 

Not  long  after  this  Mrs.  Wallace  spent  a  few  days  at 
Camp  Lyon  at  Bird's  Point  with  her  husband,  and  writes 
on  her  return  home : 

[135] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"THE  OAKS,  OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS,  September  30th,  1861. 

"I  do  not  feel  like  writing  a  bit.  I  have  been  beside  you 
and  talked  so  much  that  I  dislike  to  return  to  this  old  medi 
um.  *  *  *  *  I  could  not  help  but  see  when  I  was 
with  you  at  Bird's  Point  how  uneasy  you  were  because  I  was 
in  such  an  exposed  position.  I  know  it  is  because  you  love 
me  so  much  that  you  felt  so,  but  don't  you  know  I  love 
you?  If  I  did  not  feel  that  I  was  a  burden  to  you  the  dan 
ger  of  your  place  would  have  no  terrors  for  me  so  long  as 
I  could  be  near  you.  *  *  *  *  It  was  so  hard  to  leave 
you  this  time.  It  is  not  so  hard  for  you.  You  are  engaged 
in  the  work  that  takes  you  from  me,  and  I  am  just  waiting 
and  watching  until  you  get  it  done  and  can  come  to  me  and 
your  home.  It  is  a  weary  watching  and  looks  very  hopeless 
to  me  to-night." 


[136] 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

MAJOR-GENERAL  HALLECK  IN  COMMAND  OF  WESTERN  DE 
PARTMENT.     BATTLE  OF  BELMONT. 

WHEN  General  Halleck  succeeded  Generals  Fremont 
and  Hunter  as  commander  of  the  Western  Depart 
ment,  he  organized  his  department  into  military  dis 
tricts,  appointing  General  Grant  as  Commander  of  the  "Dis 
trict  of  Cairo,"  which  included  "all  the  southern  part  of  Il 
linois,  that  part  of  Kentucky  west  of  the  Cumberland  river, 
and  the  southern  part  of  Missouri  south  of  Cape  Girar- 
deau." 

General  Grant  brigaded  his  military  district  as  follows: 

HEADQUARTERS,  DISTRICT  SOUTHEAST  MISSOURI, 

CAIRO,  October  14,  1861. 
GENERAL  ORDER  No.  11. 

For  the  better  convenience  of  administering  the  duties  of 
this  military  district,  this  command  will  be  brigaded  as  fol 
lows,  subject  to  such  changes  as  may  be  deemed  necessary 
in  the  future: 

First  brigade  as  now  organized,  and  commanded  by 
Brigadier-General  John  A.  McClernand,  with  the  addition 
of  the  Tenth  and  Eighteenth  Illinois  regiments,  Schwartz's 
battery  of  light  artillery,  and  Stewart's  cavalry. 

Second  brigade  will  be  composed  of  Eighth  regiment  Il 
linois  volunteers,  Seventh  Iowa,  and  Twenty-second  Illinois, 
Captain  Houghtaling's  Light  Artillery,  and  five  companies 
of  Second  Illinois  cavalry,  yet  to  be  assigned,  and  will  be 
under  command  of  Colonel  R.  J.  Oglesby. 

Third  brigade  will  be  composed  of  the  Eleventh  and 
Twentieth  Illinois  regiments,  Second  Iowa  regiment,  Cap 
tain  Taylor's  Battery  of  Light  Artillery,  and  Langen's, 
PfafFs,  Burill's,  and  Noleman's  cavalry,  and  will  be  under 
command  of  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 

Fourth  brigade,  Colonel  John  Cook  commanding,  will  be 
composed  of  the  Seventh  and  Twenty-eighth  Illinois  regi- 

[137] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

ments,  McAllister's  company  of  light  artillery,  DeLano's 
cavalry,  and  one  company  of  Second  Illinois  regiment  of 
cavalry. 

Fifth  brigade,  Colonel  Plummer  commanding,  will  be 
composed  of  the  Eleventh  Missouri,  Seventeenth  Illinois, 
and  Tenth  Iowa  regiments.  Headquarters  at  Cape  Girar- 
deau. 

The  command  of  the  Post  of  Cairo,  including  Mound 
City,  will  be  retained  by  General  McClernand. 

Brigade  commanders  will  make  their  report  immediately 
to  these  headquarters. 

By  order  of  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Grant,  commanding. 

JOHN  A.  RAWLINS, 
Assistant  Adjutant-General. 

There  had  still  been  no  very  serious  engagements  when 
General  Wallace  writes  home  on  October  15th,  1861,  telling 
of  some  of  the  passing  events  in  camp  at  Bird's  Point. 

"I  went  to  Cairo  this  morning  and  while  there  was  intro 
duced  to  Commodore  Porter,  the  commandant  of  the  gun 
boat  fleet  here.  At  his  invitation  I  went  with  him  onto  his 
boat,  the  New  Era,  and  he  fired  two  shells  from  his  im 
mense  quick  guns.  They  fell  in  the  river  two  and  a  half 
miles  off  and  exploded  in  the  water. 

"General  Grant  has  brigaded  the  forces  here  and  given 
me  command  of  one  of  the  brigades,  the  Third.  We  are 
to  have  a  general  review  of  all  the  forces  here  to-morrow  at 
10:30  o'clock.  General  Grant  reviews  us. 

"The  flag  of  truce  that  came  up  on  a  boat  from  Colum 
bus  yesterday,  was  ostensibly  for  the  purpose  of  negotiating 
for  an  exchange  of  prisoners.  It  brought  a  letter  from 
General  Polk  (the  Rev.  Bishop  rebel  General)  asking  for 
an  exchange  'upon  the  principles  recognized  in  the  exchange 
made  by  General  Pillow  and  Colonel  Wallace.'  General 
Grant  declined  to  negotiate,  but  referred  the  matter  to  high 
er  authority.  I  think  he  might  as  well  exchange,  for  it 
must  come  to  that  in  the  end." 

After  the  review  Colonel  Wallace  writes  about  it  to  his 
wife: 

[138] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"October  16th.  We  had  a  grand  review  to-day.  General 
Grant  was  to  have  reviewed  us  and  I  had  the  whole  force 
in  line  at  10 :30  o'clock,  and  waited  an  hour  for  the  General. 
He  then  sent  word  that  his  services  would  be  postponed  till 
further  orders.  But  I  determined  that  the  review  should 

fo  on  and  I  reviewed  them  myself.  It  was  a  fine  sight, 
ix  companies  of  infantry,  five  companies  of  cavalry,  and  a 
light  battery  of  six  guns.  It  was  as  fine  a  column  as  I  ever 
saw.  The  line  was  a  mile  long.  All  were  highly  pleased 
with  the  display."  The  soldiers  probably  equally  admired 
their  commanding  officer,  as  many  have  said  General  Wal 
lace  was  one  of  the  finest  looking  men  on  horse-back  they 
ever  saw. 

The  following  day  he  again  writes  to  his  wife: 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  October  17. 

"No  news  and  no  new  movements.  What  can  I  write  you 
about.  Nothing  but  the  old  story.  *  *  *  *  Old,  but 
none  the  worse  for  its  age,  I  hope.  That  tale,  old  as  Adam's 
conversation  with  Eve,  but  new  as  the  Eden  in  which  they 
dwelt.  I  love  you  none  the  less,  than  I  loved  you  twelve 
years  ago,  but  my  love,  like  a  sturdy,  vigorous  oak,  has 
grown  broader  and  deeper  and  stronger  with  its  age,  until 
its  roots  are  so  entwined  and  interlaced  with  the  very  foun 
dations  of  my  being,  that  it  seems  to  lose  it  would  be  to  de 
stroy  my  very  life." 

On  October  21st,  he  again  writes  of  details  of  post  life: 
"Yesterday  I  rode  with  Colonel  Oglesby  over  to  Cairo, 
attended  a  review  of  the  Eighteenth  regiment  and  dined 
with  General  McClernand.  In  the  evening  there  was  quite 
a  collection  of  officers  at  headquarters,  and  it  was  late  be 
fore  we  got  through  talking,  so  that  I  did  not  feel  like 
writing.  *  *  *  *  I  may  be  with  you  as  I  have  applied 
for  a  leave  of  absence.  If  I  get  it  and  all  is  as  quiet  here 
then  as  now,  I  shall  run  home  for  a  few  days." 

His  wife  writes : 

"OTTAWA,  October  22d. 

"Come  if  you  can  and  do  right,  if  not  stay  at  your  post. 
I  love  you  all  the  more  because  you  can  give  up  your  home 

[139] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

and  all  its  comforts  and  endearments  when  our  struggling 
country  calls.  Such  men  as  you  must  win.  All  will  yet  be 
well.  Oh !  may  God  give  you  back  to  me  when  this  sad  con 
test  is  over." 

General  Wallace  was  home  for  a  few  days  and  while 
away  occurred  the  expedition  and  battle  of  Belmont  in  Mis 
souri  on  November  7th.  Cyrus  Dickey  wrote  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Wallace,  as  they  were  starting  out : 

"COMMERCE,  Mo.,  35  MILES  NORTH  OF  CAIRO, 

"November  4th,  1861. 
"DEAR  SISTER  : 

"We  have  started  on  an  expedition  at  last  with  two 
weeks'  rations.  The  object  of  it  or  direction  of  it  is  not  yet 
made  public.  About  5,000  men,  infantry,  cavalry  and  artil 
lery  with  ample  transportation.  We  arrived  here  to-day  by 
river  and  take  up  the  line  of  march  to-morrow  at  sunrise. 
We  have  only  five  companies  of  the  Eleventh  under  Lieu 
tenant-Colonel  Ransom.  The  expedition  is  under  command 
of  Colonel  Oglesby.  Our  companies  are  C,  D,  E,  G  and  R, 
and  Captain  Noleman's  cavalry. 

"We  are  now  outside  the  postal  communication  with  the 
United  States  and  you  will  probably  not  hear  from  me 
again  until  the  close  of  the  expedition.  I  have  no  notion 
how  long. 

"The  whole  troop  is  in  good  health  and  spirits.  I  am 
very  sorry  Wallace  was  not  at  the  Point  on  Saturday,  for 
I  think  I  have  good  reason  to  believe  that  General  Grant 
intended  to  give  him  the  command  of  the  expedition  and 
waited  for  him  to  the  last  moment." 

Colonel  Wallace  arrived  at  Bird's  Point  by  the  sixth  and 
made  immediate  preparations  to  join  the  expedition.  He 
writes  his  wife: 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  Mo.,  November  6th,  1861. 
«****i  foun(j  on  my  arrival  here  that  an  expedi 
tion  has  gone  under  Colonel  Oglesby  out  west,  and  that 
Colonel  Ransom  and  Cyrus  have  gone  along  with  five  com- 

[140] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

panics  of  the  Eleventh.  I  start  to-night  with  the  balance  of 
the  regiment  to  join  them.  I  go  to  Charleston  by  rail  and 
from  thence  march  by  land.  I  expect  to  join  Oglesby's  com 
mand  at  or  near  Bloomfield.  I  cannot  say  how  long  we  shall 
be  out,  perhaps  several  days.  *  *  *  My  mind  is  filled 
with  pleasant  remembrances  of  my  visit  home.  These  busy 
scenes  and  active  preparation  cannot  drive  them  altogether 
from  me.  I  write  amid  the  hurried  bustle  of  preparing  for 
our  departure  with  a  hundred  interruptions  to  inquire  about 
this  and  that,  but  amid  it  all  and  underlying  all  my  active 
thoughts  runs  the  strong,  deep  current  of  my  love  for  you, 
an  ever  present,  all  pervading  consciousness  full  of  pleas 
ure.  God  in  His  great  mercy  grant  that  it  may  always  be 
so,  and  that  we  may  be  restored  to  each  other  and  to  the 
full  enjoyment  of  our  great  love  for  each  other." 

Colonel  Wallace  did  not  arrive  in  time  for  the  battle  of 
Belmont,  which  occurred  November  7th.  "It  was  a  bloody 
and  stormily  contested  battle,  and  one  that  caused  much 
criticism.  The  enemy  was  encamped  on  high  ground  about 
two  and  a  half  miles  from  the  landing,  which  they  could 
easily  see  and  command  with  their  guns.  The  fight  was 
continuous  from  the  landing  on  the  Federal  side  up  to  the 
enemy's  camp,  which  was  taken  after  severe  fighting,  but 
could  not  be  held,  as  heavy  reinforcements  were  coming  in 
and  the  Federal  soldiers  fell  back  to  their  boats,  fighting  all 
the  way  back  against  desperate  odds." 

"The  engagement  was  supposed  to  be  necessary  to  pro 
tect  our  southwestern  army  in  Missouri  from  overwhelming 
forces  being  rapidly  consolidated  against  it  from  Arkansas, 
Tennessee  and  Columbus,  Ky.  The  struggle  was  a  des 
perate  one." 

Colonel  Wallace  thought  it  had  been  unwise  to  attempt 
the  battle,  as  he  writes:  "The  advantages  were  all  against 
the  attempt  and  any  permanent  or  substantial  good  an  ut 
ter  impossibility  under  the  circumstances.  *  *  *  *  It 
is  called  a  victory,  but  if  such  be  victory,  God  save  us  from 
defeat.  True,  it  demonstrated  the  courage  and  fighting 
qualities  of  our  men,  but  it  cost  too  much.  *  *  *  *  I 

[141] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

saw  Mrs.  B's  friend,  the  Right  Reverend  Major-General 
Polk.  Many  of  the  rebel  officers  were  very  pleasant  gen 
tlemen,  but  Folk's  manner  made  me  mad  when  I  remem 
bered  his  former  position  and  profession  as  a  minister  of 
the  Gospel  of  peace,  to  see  him  strutting  in  the  livery  of 
rebellion  like  some  vain  cadet." 

This  same  rebel,  General  Polk,  and  General  Wallace  met 
again  on  the  hard  fought  field  of  Shiloh,  where  they  were 
within  seventy-five  feet  of  one  another  when  General  Wal 
lace  fell.  General  Polk  sent  one  of  his  officers  to  find  out 
who  "that  brave  man  was." 

Mrs.  Wallace  had  been  making  some  visits  among  rela 
tives  down  in  the  central  part  of  the  State,  and  on  her  re 
turn  writes  to  her  husband: 

"OTTAWA,  December  2d,  1861. 

"How  comfortable  and  luxuriant  our  home  is.  I  have 
been  nowhere  among  our  friends  that  are  so  well  fixed  as 
we  are,  thanks  to  your  loving  care.  I  have  envied  happy 
wives  the  society  of  their  husbands,  but  none  are  so  proud 
as  I  am.  They  all  seem  to  apologize  and  give  good  reasons 
why  their  husbands  are  not  in  the  army.  I  am  proud  and 
happy  to  be  Will  Wallace's  wife  at  home.  *  *  *  * 
Captain  Rockwood  took  luncheon  with  us  at  Aunt  M's  in 
Delavan.  In  talking  of  the  battle  of  Belmont,  the  Captain 
said  if  you  had  been  with  Grant  the  result  would  have  been 
better.  I  told  him  I  supposed  Grant  was  in  command  and 
would  have  done  as  he  thought  best.  He  said  you  had  made 
the  lay  of  the  land  about  there  your  study  and  they  all  knew 
it  and  that  a  suggestion  from  you  went  a  great  ways,  even 
if  you  were  not  first  in  command." 

General  Fremont  was  in  command  of  the  Western  De 
partment  but  a  few  months.  For  a  very  brief  time  General 
David  Hunter  was  in  command,  to  be  followed  by  General 
H.  W.  Halleck,  who  assumed  the  command  on  November 
9th,  1861,  which  he  held  until  July,  1862,  when  he  was  made 
Commander  in  Chief  of  the  armies  of  the  United  States, 
with  headquarters  at  Washington  City. 

[142] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

The  following  extracts  from  Colonel  Wallace's  letters 
will  show  the  feeling  in  the  Western  army  at  the  lack  of  a 
competent  head,  and  the  changing  so  frequently  of  com 
manding  Generals  so  disastrous  to  a  cause: 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  November  26,  1861. 

"We  have  a  new  General  (General  Halleck)  at  St.  Louis 
and  there  seems  to  be  a  new  order  of  things,  but  whether  it 
will  be  any  improvement  on  the  old  remains  to  be  seen.  I 
am  getting  very  tired  of  this  and  feel  strongly  the  necessity 
of  some  head — some  leading  mind  on  whom  I  can  rely,  and 
feel  that  in  so  doing  I  am  directed  by  a  mind  that  con 
ceives  the  crisis  and  comprehends  the  means  of  meeting  it. 
This  feeling  of  doubt  and  distrust  is  terrible  when  there 
are  such  momentous  issues  at  stake." 

"December  1,  1861. 

"I  am  becoming  discouraged  at  the  prospect.  The  Gov 
ernment  seems  to  be  unequal  to  the  emergency.  In  spite  of 
the  perils  and  dangers  with  which  it  is  surrounded,  those 
who  ought  to  adopt  vigorous  and  efficient  measures  to  meet 
and  crush  the  rebellion  seem  to  be  devoting  their  time  and 
talents  to  rewarding  political  favorites  and  enriching  mer 
cenary  contractors.  *  *  *  *  We  lack  a  head — a  fatal 
lack  in  times  like  these.  Changes  constantly  recurring  in 
Generals,  accompanied  by  changes  of  plan,  have  resulted 
only  in  inaction  and  the  wealth  of  men  and  means  which  the 
patriotism  of  the  country  poured  out,  so  far  from  being 
moulded  and  fashioned  into  an  army  to  crush  the  traitors 
are  fast  degenerating  into  a  mob.  Unless  some  vigorous 
measures  are  at  once  adopted  our  army  will  soon  be  a 
source  of  weakness  instead  of  strength  to  the  Federal  Gov 
ernment.  Men  whose  capacity  is  not  above  that  of  a  regi 
mental  Quartermaster,  are  put  into  positions  where  it  is 
their  duty  to  plan  campaigns  and  move  thousands  or  tens  of 
thousands  of  soldiers  to  battle.  With  such  counsels  govern 
ing,  defeat  and  disgrace  is  certain.  *  *  *  * 

"Excuse  me  for  inflicting  on  you  these  gloomy  forebod 
ings,  but  I  write  as  I  feel  and  think,  and  as  I  write  to  no 
one  else  in  this  spirit  you  must  bear  with  me.  I  feel  as 
if  I  need  some  other  incentive  to  urge  me  on  in  this  war. 

[143] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Your  brave  words  of  devotion  and  patriotism  have  done 
much  to  sustain  me,  and  although  I  have  often  had  these 
thoughts  I  never  have  expressed  them  so  strongly  before. 
The  convictions  have  been  gaining  ground  for  some  time.  I 
pray  I  may  be  mistaken  in  my  judgment  of  the  signs  of  the 


In  another  letter  he  writes:  "We  seem  to  have  won  a 
substantial  victory  in  Kentucky  at  Somerset.  I  hope  it  may 
be  followed  by  others,  and  if  it  is  my  lot  to  bear  a  part  in 
them,  I  hope,  dear  Ann,  you  may  not  have  occasion  to  blush 
for  me.  I  know  you  would,  much  as  you  love  me,  rather 
weep  for  me  honorably  dead,  than  blush  for  me  living.  And 
yet,  I  see  how  a  brave  man  may  be  so  circumstanced  that 
he  may  be  blamed  and  disgraced  even  when  doing  his  ut 
most.  Such  are  the  chances  of  war,  and  it  is  under  un 
skilful  leaders  that  I  fear  more,  far  more  than  the  personal 
dangers  of  the  conflict." 

His  wife  answers  these  gloomy  forebodings. 

"OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS,  December  5th. 
"If  you  have  conceived  a  plan  that  if  carried  out  you 
think  is  good  and  you  know  of  men  that  can  do  it  and  will 
do  it  right  if  they  were  put  in  power,  would  it  not  be  well 
for  you  (in  fact  your  duty)  to  go  to  Lincoln  and  Cameron 
or  write  it  out  plainly  and  have  the  right  man  go  for  you 
and  at  least  give  them  the  benefit  of  your  thought  in  re 
gard  to  the  Western  Division  at  least.  Do  not  ask  for  any 
thing  for  yourself  and  refuse  any  preferment  that  should  by 
any  chance  be  offered,  and  then  there  is  little  room  to  im 
pugn  your  motives  and  more  certainty  to  have  your  views 
studied.  I  know  you  will  say  and  think  that  your  wife's 
opinion  of  the  dear  soldier  husband's  capacity  is  too  exalted. 
Your  opinion  may  have  more  weight  than  your  modesty 
gives  it  credit  for." 

Mrs.  Wallace  made  a  little  visit  to  her  husband  at  Cairo 
the  first  of  the  year  and  on  her  return  resumes  her  letter 
writing. 

[144] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"THE  OAKS,  OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS,  January  7,  1862. 
"Here  I  am  again  at  my  old  evening's  work  just  talking 
to  you  before  I  sleep.  *  *  *  *  Our  dear  little  Blos 
som  is  growing  sweeter  and  dearer  every  day.  She  is  like 
sunshine  in  the  house.  She  is  doing  a  great  deal  of  thinking 
nowadays.  To-day  she  asked  me  in  a  very  thoughtful  man 
ner — without  anything  to  introduce  the  subject  that  I  could 
see  without  it  was  the  anatomy  of  her  doll — who  made  her. 
I  told  her  God  made  her  and  tried  for  the  first  time  to  tell 
her  there  was  a  God  that  made  us  all  and  everything  and 
who  kept  us  alive  and  loved  good  and  hated  wrong,  who 
lived  high  up  beyond  the  stars  and  could  see  us  all  always. 
1  never  will  forget  the  pleasant  wonder  of  her  thoughtful 
face.  Then  to-night  before  she  went  to  bed  I  told  her  that 
that  good  Father  in  heaven  would  hear  her  if  she  would 
ask  Him  to  take  care  of  her  all  night  and  to  take  care  of 
papa  and  bring  him  safe  home,  and  with  the  pure  faith 
of  a  child  she  lisped  her  first  prayer,  me  prompting  her. 
Do  you  not  feel  strong,  dearest,  with  that  little  innocent 
pleading  for  you  ?  Oh !  I  do  believe  you  will  come  back 
safe  to  us.  *  *  *  *  I  have  not  got  fairly  settled  at 
home  again  yet.  I  am  living  over  again  in  my  thoughts 
so  many  of  those  precious  hours  that  we  spent  together. 
It  looks  a  long  time  until  the  'eighteenth'  but  I  find  I  am 
already  enjoying  your  visit  in  anticipation." 

Colonel  Wallace  answers  the  above  letter : 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  January  12th,  1862. 
"I  have  read  over  and  over  again  your  dear  letter  of 
Tuesday  evening  last,  wherein  you  give  me  an  account  of 
your  first  lesson  to  Blossom  about  God  and  her  first  prayer, 
and  I  have  been  unable  to  read  it  without  a  swelling  heart 
and  a  dim  eye.  *  *  *  *  I  felt  a  stronger  faith  in  a 
Divine  Providence  when  I  knew  that  the  fervent  prayers  of 
two  such  pure  souls  were  going  up  in  my  behalf,  and  I  felt 
a  stronger  desire  to  be  worthy  of  such  pure  intercession. 
*  *  *  *  Kiss  Blossom  and  tell  her  Papa  loves  his  little 
Blossom  and  prays  to  Our  Heavenly  Father  for  her  and 
Mamma  and  he  wants  little  Blossom  to  love  him  and  pray 
for  him." 

[145] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

In  answer  to  this  letter  of  her  husband's  Mrs.  Wallace 
writes  on  January  14,  1862:  "It  seems  strange,  but  very 
pleasant  to  me  to  have  you  in  the  midst  of  all  the  busy, 
rough  preparations  for  moving  troops  stop  and  read  over 
and  over  the  simple  story  of  a  baby's  first  prayer.  Do  be 
lieve  that  it  is  an  acceptable  service  and  that  strong  angels 
will  keep  guard  over  you  in  answer  to  it.  Oh !  if  our  little 
one  could  always  keep  her  simple  faith  of  to-day  unaffected 
by  the  careless  indifference  that  years  so  often  bring.  God 
helping  her,  she  will." 

Colonel  Wallace  writes  of  an  expedition  they  are  about 
to  make,  which  shows  his  care  for  his  men,  his  faith  in  God 
and  his  great  love  for  his  country : 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  January  13th,  1862. 

"We  are  again  under  marching  orders  to  leave  here  to 
morrow.  We  cross  into  Kentucky — where  we  go  I  don't 
know.  *  *  *  *  It  is  cold — very  cold.  It  has  snowed 
some  to-day  and  the  river  is  covered  with  floating  ice.  The 
cold  weather  cannot  last  long,  however,  and  the  men  are  in 
fine  spirits  at  the  prospect  of  a  forward  movement.  I  have 
taken  every  precaution  in  my  power  to  make  them  com 
fortable  and  I  hope  we  may  make  the  movement  without 
much  suffering.  *  *  *  *  We  take  five  days'  rations. 

"Going  as  we  do  without  knowing  where  or  on  what  par 
ticular  mission,  of  course,  makes  us  all  feel  somewhat  anx 
ious,  and  it  makes  me  feel  that  I  am  in  the  hands  of  a  kind 
and  over-ruling  Providence,  who  will  order  all  for  the  best. 
I  feel  and  have  ever  felt  since  I  embarked  in  this  cause 
that  the  hand  of  God  was  in  it,  and  that  out  of  all  the 
seeming  evil  He  would  evoke  the  greatest  good.  Men,  even 
the  ablest  and  the  best,  are  but  instruments  to  accomplish 
His  ends;  and  if  He  wills  that  they  perish  on  the  field  or 
live  to  return  to  their  homes,  all  is  for  the  best.  Man  can 
die  but  once  and  to  fall  in  support  of  the  Constitution  and 
the  Government  our  fathers  established  under  so  many  evi 
dences  of  Divine  favor  is  no  mean  ending  of  this  period  of 
existence.  But  I  am  looking  to  the  worst  contingency.  Be 
sides  this,  there  is  the  prospect  of  doing  what  I  may  to  es- 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

tablish  the  Government  and  then  return  unscathed  to  enjoy 
ali  the  delights  of  home." 

Mrs.  Wallace  was  naturally  anxious  at  this  unknown  ex 
pedition  and  writes  on  January  17th : 

"I  can  think  of  nothing  but  the  unknown  perils  of  this 
expedition.  I  am  loving  you,  and  hoping  for  you  and  pray 
ing  for  you,  and  may  that  knowledge  make  you  strong  for 
your  work,  able  by  God's  help  to  win  a  lasting  victory 
*  *  *  *  do  not  risk  yourself  unnecessarily.  I  am 
proud  to  believe  that  you  have  moral  courage  to  order  a 
retreat  if  the  great  cause  you  fight  for  would  not  be  bene 
fited  by  an  advance,  and  I  know  that  no  personal  danger 
would  turn  you  back  from  a  known  duty." 

On  January  twentieth  the  expedition  was  back  in  their 
old  quarters  and  Colonel  Wallace  wrote: 

"The  trip  we  have  made  has  resulted  in  at  least  one  good 
thing  for  us — It  has  demonstrated  that  we  can  move  over 
any  kind  of  roads  and  that  we  can  stand  any  kind  of 
weather,  for  it  has  been  very  cold  and  exceedingly  wet  and 
rainy  ever  since  we  started,  and  yet  our  men  have  been  not 
only  well  but  cheerful.  The  Eleventh  preserved  its  good 
name  for  orderly  conduct  and  promptness  in  the  discharge 
of  duty  when  some  other  regiments  suffered.  The  officers 

and  men  of  the were  publicly  reprimanded  by  General 

Grant  for  plundering,  and  five  dollars  for  each  officer  and 
one  dollar  for  each  private  in  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
be  stopped  from  their  pay." 

After  receiving  Mrs.  Wallace's  letter,  showing  her  great 
anxiety  at  the  expedition,  he  answers  it  on  January  twenty- 
second  at  Bird's  Point. 

"I  sincerely  commiserate  the  suffering  and  suspense  you 
endured  on  account  of  our  recent  movement.  I  felt  it  would 
be  so,  and  yet  I  cannot  say  I  would  have  it  otherwise,  be 
cause  had  you  not  feared  and  been  troubled  you  had  not 
loved  me.  Strange,  is  it  not,  that  such  suffering  is  insep 
arable  from  a  great  love?  But  you  are  relieved  now.  The 
papers  have  told  you,  even  before  my  letters  did  so,  that 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

we  are  all  safely  back  to  our  old  quarters.  I  was  in  Cairo 
to-day.  *  *  *  *  I  had  quite  a  talk  with  our  old  friend 
Commodore  Foote.  He  always  inquires  about  you,  and  to 
day  he  wished  to  be  remembered  to  you.  While  talking 
with  him  in  the  public  room  of  the  St.  Charles  a  naval 
officer  came  up  and  he  introduced  us  and  went  on  to  say, 
'He  is  a  fine  lawyer  and  soon  to  be  a  Brigadier-General  and 
I  hope  a  Major-General  before  the  war  is  over/  I  looked 
at  the  officer,  thinking  the  Commodore  was  talking  to  me 
about  him,  but  soon  saw  he  was  talking  to  him  about  me. 
Such  excessive  praise  from  such  a  source  was  too  much  for 
my  modesty  and  I  actually  blushed." 

The  country  was  not  entirely  given  up  to  war.  Politics 
still  had  a  share  in  national  affairs.  The  friends  of  Judge 
Davis  of  Illinois  were  anxious  to  have  him  placed  on  the 
Supreme  Bench  of  the  United  States,  a  gift  in  the  power 
of  the  President.  Mr.  Leonard  Swett,  a  devoted  friend  of 
both  Davis  and  Wallace,  and  a  very  prominent  lawyer  and 
politician  in  Illinois,  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Colonel 
Wallace  asking  him  to  write  to  Lincoln  and  also  refers  to 
other  political  matters  of  the  day. 

"Sx  Louis,  January  28th,  1862. 
"COLONEL  WILLIAM  H.  L.  WALLACE, 

"BIRD'S  POINT,  Mo. 
"DEAR  SIR: 

"The  friends  of  Judge  Davis  are  making  an  effort  to 
have  him  appointed  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court  for  the 
new  district  of  Illinois,  Iowa  and  Missouri.  I  have  already 
sent  forward  a  paper  signed  by  the  most  prominent  men 
of  the  present  State  convention  of  our  State.  They  signed 
it  very  generally  and  irrespective  of  party.  John  T.  Stew 
ard  has  also  written. 

"I  wish  you  would  write  to  Mr.  Lincoln  upon  this  sub 
ject.  It  is  a  sad  commentary  upon  supposed  human  grati 
tude  that  this  is  required,  but  it  is  required.  The  President 
is  hanging  fire  between  Browning  and  D'avis. 

"I  wish  you  would  write  as  soon  as  you  can,  for  I  sup 
pose  the  matter  will  soon  be  decided. 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"I  don't  know  anything  of  moment  now.  I  think  the 
convention  will  make  a  good  constitution,  making  compar 
atively  few  changes.  I  think  they  will  extend  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  County  Courts  and  give  them  to  Justices  without  a 
Grand  Jury  the  right  to  dispose  of  the  smaller  ^misde- 
meanors.  They  will  reduce  the  circuits  to  a  proper  size  and 
give  a  Judge  from  $2,000  to  $2,800.  Also,  I  think  they 
will  create  the  office  of  State  Chancellor  who  will  have 
chancery  cases  which  now  go  to  Supreme  Court  and  leave 
the  Supreme  Court  about  as  it  is. 

"No  material  changes  occur  here.  The  secessionists  are 
still  able  to  carry  local  elections  in  the  city.  In  the  Cham 
ber  of  Commerce  they  at  first  prevailed  and  since  in  the 
elections  of  the  Mercantile  Library  Association  they  elected 
their  ticket  by  200  majority. 

"It  seems  to  me,  confidentially,  that  General  Halleck  is 
too  much  the  Governor  of  Missouri  rather  than  the  leader 
of  an  army.  His  administrative  faculties  seem  to  be  good, 
but  he  is  the  back-office  lawyer  of  the  concern  rather  than 
an  active  leader. 

"I  am  informed  a  large  number  of  troops  will  leave  here 
for  Cairo  this  week.  Yours  truly, 

"LEONARD  SWETT/" 


[149] 


CHAPTER  XV. 
CAPTURE  OF  FORT  HENRY  AND  FORT  DONELSON. 

NOW  began  the  onward  march  of  events  that  went 
steadily  forward  until  culminating  in  the  surrender 
of  Lee  at  Appomatox  in  April,  1865.    On  February 
second  the  troops  started  for  the  capture  of  Fort  Henry,  a 
stronghold  of  the  Confederates   on  the  Tennessee  River. 
Colonel  Wallace  writes  his  wife  of  the  intended  expedition  : 


POINT,  February  1,  1862. 

"We  are  under  marching  orders  if  going  by  steam  may 
be  called  marching.  We  leave  to-morrow  morning.  We  go 
up  the  Ohio  and  Tennessee  rivers  and  you  may  hear  of  us 
near  the  Tennessee  line  next.  *  *  *  *  I  can  say  to 
you  what  I  cannot  say  to  any  here,  that  these  troops  with 
others  from  Cairo,  Fort  Holt,  Paducah  and  Smithland  to 
the  number  of  about  fifteen  thousand  go  up  the  Tennessee 
to  take  Fort  Henry,  which  is  situated  on  the  Tennessee 
river  just  above  the  line.  If  successful  we  will  have  the 
honor  of  being  the  first  Federal  troops  on  Tennessee  soil. 
I  understand  -unofficially  that  I  am  to  command  a  brigade 
consisting  of  the  Eleventh,  Twentieth  and  Forty-eighth  Il 
linois  regiments,  the  Fourth  cavalry  (your  pa's)  and  Tay 
lor's  battery  and  another  battery  of  artillery.  Six  gunboats 
accompany  the  expedition  —  I  hope  you  may  hear  a  good  ac 
count  of  us. 

"This  move  may  interfere  with  my  seeing  you  on  the 
eighteenth  (the  anniversary  of  their  wedding  which  they 
had  always  spent  together),  but  I  yet  hope  it  may  be  pos 
sible  —  I  should  regret  it  very  much  if  I  should  be  deprived 
of  that  pleasure.  *  *  *  *  How  much  I  have  to  thank 
you  for.  My  all  of  happiness  of  life  is  clustered  around 
you.  The  many  years  we  have  spent  together  furnish  abun 
dant  most  pleasant  food  for  memory  and  inspire  hope  for 
the  future.  You  talk  of  my  praise  being  pleasant  to  you. 
*  *  *  *  jf  j  coui(j  express  all  your  goodness,  your 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

loving  kindness,  your  constant,  patient  attention,  your  noble 
self-sacrifice,  I  would  indeed  sketch  a  character  worthy  of 
all  honor  and  love.  Know  that  deep  down  in  my  heart,  un 
derlying  all  my  thoughts,  animating  all  my  hopes,  lighting 
up  all  my  fondest  and  dearest  memories,  and  inspiring  all 
my  desires  and  wishes,  is  the  dear  image  of  yourself. 
*  *  *  *  Without  your  love  or  without  the  love  I  bear 
you,  I  should  not  be  myself.  It  is  a  part,  the  best  part, 
of  my  life.  It  has  made  me  and  is  still  making  me  a  better 
man  in  the  endeavor  it  inspires  to  be  worthy  of  that  which 
I  prize  more  than  all  on  earth." 

The  official  announcement  giving  Colonel  Wallace  com 
mand  of  a  Brigade. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  DIVISION, 
CAIRO,  ILLINOIS,  February  5,  1862. 
SPECIAL  ORDER  No.  4. 
COLONEL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE, 

Commanding  llth  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteers. 
SIR: 

By  General  Order  No.  5  of  Brigadier-General  U.  S.  Grant 
commanding  the  District  of  Cairo,  dated  February  1st,  1862, 
the  following  regiments  and  unattached  companies  compose 
the  Second  Brigade  of  the  First  Division : 

The  Eleventh  regiment  Illinois  Volunteers,  Colonel  W. 
H.  L.  Wallace ;  the  Twentieth  regiment  Illinois  Volunteers, 
Colonel  C.  C.  Marsh ;  the  Forty-fifth  regiment  Illinois  Vol 
unteers,  Colonel  I.  E.  Smith;  the  Forty-eighth  regiment  Il 
linois  Volunteers,  Colonel  I.  N.  Haynie;  the  Fourth  regi 
ment  Illinois  cavalry,  T.  Lyle  Dickey. 

Taylor's  and  McAllister's  artillery,  the  latter  with  four 
siege  guns : 

By  the  same  general  order  you,  as  senior  Colonel  of  the 
Brigade,  are  assigned  to  the  command. 

You  will  please  report  to  these  headquarters  the  strength 
of  your  command,  the  names  of  the  officers  commanding — 
and  the  date  of  their  rank,  preparatory  to  numbering  and 
classifying  them. 

After  embarkation  please  communicate  with  the  General 
commanding  for  further  instructions. 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

By  order  of 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOHN  A.  MCCLERNARD. 

M.  BRAYMASS,  A.  A.  General. 
A  general  order  given  to  a  Brigade  Commander. 

HEADQUARTERS  FIRST  DIVISION, 
ON  BOARD  THE  "ALPS/'  February  4th,  1862. 

FIELD  ORDER  No.  10. 

In  planning  the  encampment  for  the  troops,  the  Com 
manders  of  Brigades  of  the  Division  will  strictly  adhere  to 
the  following  rules,  viz : 

1.  The  batteries  of  artillery  of  their  commands  to  be 
put  in  the  most  commanding  positions,  giving  them  a  wide 
range,  if  possible. 

2.  The  proper  support  must  always  be  given  to  the  bat 
teries  in  locating  the  infantry  camps. 

3.  If  the  camping  ground  is  wanting  commanding  posi 
tions  for  the  artillery,  the  encampments  of  the  same  ought 
to  have  a  central  position,  protected  by  infantry  in  front  and 
rear,  as  well  as  on  the  flanks.    In  this  case  the  guns  will  not 
be  unlimbered. 

4.  Cavalry  not  on  picket  or  other  duty  ought  to  be  kept 
in  the  rear. 

5.  The  infantry  camps  ought  to  be  located  with  a  view 
to  an  immediate  formation  into  line  of  battle,  which  must 
be,  at  all  times  and  under  all  circumstances,  before  the 
encampments,  and  fronting  the  enemy. 

6.  Public   roads   and   other   means   of   communication 
must  not  be  obstructed  by  the  encampment  or  baggage 
trains. 

7.  The  baggage  trains  of  regiments  and  independent 
companies  must  be  kept  in  the  rear  of  the  respective  en 
campments. 

8.  Brigade  headquarters  should  have  a  central  and  most 
acceptable  location,  and  the  main  guards  should  have  their 
fires  nearby. 

9.  Requisitions  and  returns  for  provisions  and  forage 
must  be  made  in  due  form,  and  corresponding  to  the  num 
ber  of  men  present  on  the  morning  reports.    They  must  be 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

approved   at   Brigade   headquarters   before   issues    can   be 
made. 

10.  The  guards,  including  the  men  for  the  picket  line, 
composed  of  300  men,  more  or  less;  will  be  mounted  at  8 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

11.  By  breaking  the  camps  the  troops  will  always  be 
provided  with  one  day's  rations,  already  cooked,  to  be  car 
ried  in  their  haversacks. 

By  order  of 

BRIGADIER-GENERAL  JOHN  A.  MCCLERNAND, 
Commanding  First  Division. 
A.  SCHWARTZ, 

Captain  and  Acting  Chief  of  Field  Staff. 

On  February  second,  on  the  journey  up  the  river  to  Fort 
Henry,  General  Wallace  had  the  sorrow  of  losing  his 
younger  brother,  Matthew  by  drowning.  As  his  Assistant 
Adjutant-General,  Lieutenant  I.  P.  Rumsey,  says:  "We 
saw  the  tenderness  of  his  heart  when,  as  we  started  from 
Cairo,  the  news  came  of  the  death  of  his  youngest  brother, 
an  officer  in  the  Fourth  cavalry,  who  was  drowned  from 
their  boat  as  it  lay  at  Cairo,  but  still  the  man  and  the  sol 
dier  went  bravely  on  with  present  duty."  General  Wallace 
writes  his  wife  of  the  sad  event: 

"ON  BOARD  STEAMER  D.  A.  JANUARY, 

CAIRO,  February  3,  1862. 

"I  have  sad  news  to  write.  Brother  Matthew  fell  over 
board  off  the  steamer  Chancellor  last  evening  and  was 
drowned.  It  was  a  dark  cold  day  and  everything  was  cov 
ered  with  sleet.  His  company  had  embarked  on  the  boat 
and  it  pushed  out  into  the  stream  to  make  room  for  another 
boat.  He  was  passing  along  the  guard  and  slipped.  He  put 
out  his  hand  against  one  of  the  swinging  beams  used  as 
fenders — it  gave  way  and  he  lost  his  balance  and  fell  over 
board  forward  of  the  wheel  and  passed  under  the  wheel, 
and  although  he  had  his  saber,  carbine  and  pistol  on  and  his 
overcoat,  he  struck  out  and  swam  some  distance  toward 
the  shore,  but  the  load  was  too  much  for  him  and  he  sank 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

before  assistance  reached  him.  Poor  Mat!  Had  he  fallen 
in  action  I  should  not  have  felt  it  so  keenly,  as  that  is  the 
fate  a  soldier  contemplates,  but  to  be  thus  cut  off  in  the 
flush  of  his  youth,  with  a  bright  career  just  opening  before 
him,  is  indeed  most  sad." 

He  writes  again  February  4th : 

"We  are  here  four  miles  below  Fort  Henry  on  the  east 
side  of  the  Tennessee  river.  We  can  see  the  rebel  flag  for 
the  first  time  floating  over  their  forces.  We  landed  here 
this  afternoon  and  are  now  occupying  a  series  of  hills  run 
ning  back  from  the  river.  *  *  *  *  I  am  very  tired 
to-night.  I  haven't  got  used  to  my  new  responsibilities  as 
commander  of  a  brigade  in  the  field  and  feel  of  course,  a 
great  deal  of  anxiety  about  details.  I  trust,  however,  that 
all  may,  with  the  will  of  God,  work  for  the  best.  My  quar 
ters  to-night  are  in  a  negro  cabin,  with  my  brigade  biv 
ouacked  on  the  hills  about  me.  I  have  just  sent  out  my  last 
instructions  for  the  night." 

Dr.  T.  M.  Eddy  tells  of  the  attack  on  Fort  Henry  in  his 
"Patriotism  of  Illinois :" 

"The  General  commanding  ordered  the  First  Division, 
General  McClernand's,  including  the  First  and  Second  bri 
gades,  to  take  a  position  on  the  roads  from  Fort  Henry  to 
Donelson  and  Dover  to  prevent  the  reinforcement  of  the 
fort  or  the  escape  of  its  garrison  and  to  be  in  readiness  to 
charge  and  take  Fort  Henry  by  storm  on  the  receipt  of 
orders.  The  Second  Division,  commanded  by  General  C.  F. 
Smith,  was  to  cross  the  river  and  move  up  the  western 
shore  and  occupy  a  hill  overlooking  the  fort  which  the  ene 
my  had  begun  to  fortify,  and  then  to  send  a  portion  of  his 
force  across  the  river  and  reinforce  General  McClernand. 
The  gunboats  were  to  shell  the  fort  and  drive  the  enemy 
from  the  guns.  Gommodore  Foote  urged  the  land  forces  to 
start  in  advance  of  the  gunboats  and  when  he  ascertained 
they  would  not,  said  pleasantly,  but  prophetically,  'I  will 
take  the  fort  before  you  get  there/ 

"The  two  divisions  set  out  as  ordered.  The  First  made 
every  exertion  to  get  up  into  position  to  intercept  the  gar- 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

rison,  but  the  Tennessee  mud  was  too  deep.  Over  slippery 
hills,  through  tenacious  swamps,  the  Illinois  boys  pressed 
eagerly  forward,  marching  to  the  music  of  Foote's  deep- 
mouthed  artillery  and  the  reply  of  the  heavy  guns  from  Fort 
Henry.  Suddenly  all  was  still,  and  the  question  ran  along 
the  lines,  'What  does  it  mean?  Is  Foote  beaten?'  They 
were  to  learn  that  the  majority  of  the  boasting  garrison  had 
fled  from  their  camp  and  that  the  remainder  had  surren 
dered.  In  addition  to  mud  McClernand  was  obstructed  by 
outer  lines  of  defense  made  by  felling  the  timber  for  several 
rods  in  breadth  until  the  piled  trunks  and  mingled  branches 
made  a  barrier  truly  difficult  to  scale." 

General  Wallace's  brigade  was  on  this  march,  and  on 
February  seventh  he  writes  his  wife  from  the  fort: 

"We  are  here,  got  in  yesterday  afternoon  after  the  gun 
boats  had  shelled  the  enemy  out.  We  (the  Second  Brigade) 
were  some  three  or  four  miles  out,  on  the  march,  when  the 
cannonading  ceased.  It  lasted  about  two  hours  and  was 
tremendous.  The  effect  of  the  fire  on  the  fortifications 
here  was  terrible.  Guns  dismantled,  earthworks  torn  up 
and  the  evidence  of  carnage  meet  the  eye  on  every  hand.  It 
was  a  strong  place  and  could  have  been  held  by  a  deter 
mined  force  for  a  long  time.  The  enemy  seemed  to  have 
been  seized  with  a  panic  and  the  whole  body,  some  four  or 
five  thousand,  left,  leaving  one  artillery  company  in  the 
fort.  General  Lloyd  Tilghman,  who  is  in  command  of  this 
district  or  division  of  the  rebel  forces,  is  among  the  pris 
oners.'  *  *  *  *  The  Eleventh  didn't  get  under  fire,  but 
hope  for  better  luck  next  time.  *  *  *  *  The  men 
have  been  without  tents  most  of  the  time  since  we  started 
and  were  exposed  to  a  tremendous  rain  the  night  before  we 
reached  here.  The  roads  were  horrible,  but  notwithstanding 
this  they  marched  and  took  the  heavy  trains  of  artillery  over 
the  worst  roads  I  ever  saw." 

The  marriage  anniversary  of  General  and  Mrs.  Wallace 
was  on  the  eighteenth  of  February,  which  they  had  always 
spent  together,  and  Mrs.  Wallace  had  hoped  her  husband 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

would  be  able  to  be  at  home  for  the  day,  but  this  hope  was 
shattered  by  the  following  letter: 

"HEADQUARTERS  SECOND  BRIGADE,  FIRST  DIVISION, 

"FORT  HENRY,  TENNESSEE,  February  11,  1862. 

"The  prospects  for  being  with  you  on  the  eighteenth  are 

very  poor  indeed.     In  fact,  I  am  reluctantly  compelled  to 

admit  that  it  is  impossible,  and  so  is  the  project  of  your 

coming  to  me.     We  are  concentrating  a  large  force  here 

and  some  important  forward  movement  ought  to  be  made 

at  once.    But,  even  if  it  should  not,  this  is  no  place  for  you. 

I  know  you  would  brave  all  the  danger  of  coming  here,  but 

I  ought  not  and  cannot  permit  it." 

Mrs.  Wallace's  disappointment  was  deep — that  they 
could  not  spend  their  anniversary  together,  the  first  they 
had  missed  since  their  marriage. 

She  writes  on  February  llth: 

"The  disappointment  is  almost  more  than  I  can  bear. 
To  be  a  good  wife  for  such  a  good  soldier  I  ought  to  send 
you  brave  words  prompted  by  a  brave  heart.  I  am  too  sad. 
*  *  *  *  The  days  so  filled  with  sweet  memories  make 
me  more  a  wife  than  a  patriot,  I  ought  to  be  proud  that  it 
is  your  lot  to  stand  successfully  between  your  threatened 
country  and  her  enemies.  I  ought  to  be  grateful  to  the  kind 
Father  that  has  thus  far  preserved  you  amid  many  perils." 

Then  followed  the  march  on  Fort  Donelson  with  the  in- 
vesture  and  four  days'  fight,  ending  in  the  surrender  on  the 
sixteenth. 

Before  going  into  detail  in  regard  to  General  Wallace's 
movements,  some  extracts  are  given  from  Mrs.  Wallace's 
letters,  showing  the  anxiety  and  tension  of  the  women  at 
home  when  a  battle  was  in  progress : 

"OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS,  February  13th. 
"Our  papers  to-day  tell  of  no  result  as  yet  at  Fort  Don 
elson.     Oh!  that  that  stronghold  was  ours  as  well  as  Fort 
Henry.    I  cannot  but  dread  the  battle.    God  help  us  and  our 
loved  country." 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"February  14th,  1862. 

' 'There  is  a  party  over  at  Judge  Caton's  to-night.  The 
others  have  gone.  Mrs.  Caton  seemed  to  want  me  to  at 
tend  very  much,  but  the  thought  of  you  before  Fort  Don- 
elson  is  in  my  mind  every  minute.  The  gay  scene  could  not 
be  agreeable." 

"February  17,  1862. 

"This  Monday  morning  I  give  you  a  word  or  two  hoping, 
praying  it  may  find  you  safe.  I  cannot  write,  I  can  only 
wait,  almost  holding  my  breath,  wishing,  yet  dreading  to 
hear  the  result  of  the  deadly  conflict  that  I  feel  is  going  on 
at  Fort  Donelson.  Oh,  God  in  mercy,  spare  me!" 

"February  18,  1862. 

"I  believe  you  are  safe.  Your  name  is  not  in  that  dread 
list.  A  kind  Father  has  heard  my  prayer.  *  *  *  *  A 
week  ago  I  could  not  have  believed  that  I  could  have  passed 
this  anniversary  so  happy  away  from  you.  But  the  compar 
ative  relief  from  my  anxious  dread  of  danger  to  you  and 
other  dear  ones  is  such  that  I  have  felt  exhilarated  and  hap- 

py." 

Mrs.  Wallace  had  had  a  new  black  brocaded  silk  gown 
made  to  grace  the  occasion  should  her  husband  come  home 
for  their  anniversary.  When  he  did  not  come  it  was  put 
away  until  he  should.  He  never  came  home  again.  When 
he  was  taken  the  dress  was  put  away  for  her  own  burial. 
The  little  package  went  with  her  over  many  miles  of  travel 
— over  home  land  and  foreign  lands — oceans  and  mountains. 
Her  daughter  was  told  what  it  contained,  and  for  what  pur 
pose  it  was  to  be  used,  but  never  saw  it  until  the  sad  time 
that  it  was  needed.  It  had  been  folded  away  twenty-seven 
years. 

On  the  twelfth  of  February  the  forward  march  began  on 
Fort  Donelson,  twelve  miles  distant  from  Fort  Henry,  with 
a  force  of  about  fifteen  thousand  troops  divided  into  two 
divisions  under  the  command  of  Generals  McClernand  and 
Smith.  The  fort  was  invested,  but  no  fighting,  except 
skirmishing  on  the  lines,  was  done  until  the  arrival  of  the 
gunboats  on  the  thirteenth  and  another  division  under  Gen- 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

eral  Lew  Wallace,  and  the  battle  was  begun  on  the  four 
teenth  by  firing  from  the  gunboat  fleet  of  Commodore 
Foote,  but  the  boats  after  a  couple  of  hours  were  disabled 
when  Grant  attempted  to  invest  the  fort  and  take  it  by 
siege.  This  was  frustrated  by  the  enemy  making  a  sortie 
and  attacking  the  Union  forces.  A  terrible  battle  raged  for 
several  hours. 

The  rebel  Generals  in  command  of  Fort  Donelson  were 
Generals  Pillow,  Floyd,  Buckner  and  Bushrod  Johnson. 
Pillow  and  Floyd  deserted  their  friends,  leaving  the  com 
mand  to  S.  B.  Buckner,  who  on  the  sixteenth,  addressed  a 
communication  to  the  Federal  General  commanding  for 
terms  of  capitulation,  to  which  Grant,  then  General  com 
manding,  made  the  answer  that  has  passed  into  history. 

"HEADQUARTERS,  ARMY  IN  THE  FIELD, 
"CAMP  NEAR  DONELSON,  February  16,  1862. 
"To  GENERAL  S.  B.  BUCKNER,  CONFEDERATE  ARMY: 

"Yours  of  this  date,  proposing  an  armistice  and  appoint 
ment  of  commissioners  to  settle  terms  of  capitulation  is  just 
received.  No  terms  other  than  an  unconditional  and  imme 
diate  surrender  can  be  accepted.  I  propose  to  move  imme 
diately  upon  your  works. 

"I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 
"U.  S.  GRANT,  BRIGADIER-GENERAL.  U.  S.  A. 

"Commanding." 

General  Buckner  had  but  to  surrender  or  subject  his  men 
to  unnecessary  carnage.  He  answered  as  follows : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  DOVER,  TENNESSEE. 

"February  16,  1862. 

"To  BRIGADIER-GENERAL  U.  S.  GRANT,  U.  S.  A. 
"SiR: 

"The  distribution  of  the  forces  under  my  command,  inci 
dent  to  an  unexpected  change  of  commanders,  and  the  over 
whelming  force  under  your  command,  compel  me,  nothwith- 
standing  the  brilliant  success  of  the  Confederate  arms  yes 
terday,  to  accept  the  ungenerous  and  unchivalrous  terms 
which  you  propose. 

"I  am,  sir,  your  very  obedient  servant, 

"S.  B.  BUCKNER,  Brig.  Gen.  C.  S.  A." 
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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

This  magnificent  victory  gave  the  Union  army  nearly  fif 
teen  thousand  prisoners  of  war,  one  hundred  and  forty-six 
guns  of  the  largest  caliber,  with  a  fort  of  great  strength.  As 
Dr.  Eddy  says :  "It  broke  the  line  of  rebel  defence ;  com 
pelled  the  evacuation  of  Columbus  and  placed  Nashville  at 
the  mercy  of  Federal  bayonets.  Grant  and  Foote  desired 
immediately  to  move  upon  its  works,  but  General  Halleck 
refused  permission.  As  the  telegraph  flashed  the  news  of 
the  surrender  the  country  was  wild  with  excitement.  Bells 
rang,  bonfires  blazed,  strong  men  embraced  each  other  on 
the  streets  and  wept  and  shouted." 

From  a  Southern  standpoint  John  A.  Wyeth,  M.  D.,  in  a 
magazine  article  of  February,  1899,  said :  "The  struggle  at 
Fort  Donelson  was  the  first  decisive  battle  of  the  Civil  War. 
In  many  respects  it  proved  to  be  the  most  important  engage 
ment  between  the  contending  armies  of  the  North  and  the 
South.  There  were  to  follow  many  more  desperate  en 
counters  where  greater  numbers  were  engaged  and  the 
slaughter  more  fearful.  But  in  all  probability  the  careful 
historian  will  yet  decide  that  in  shaping  events  which  step 
by  step  wrought  the  downfall  of  the  Southern  coalition, 
Fort  Donelson  stands  preeminent.  It  was  a  blow  which 
staggered  the  Confederacy,  and  from  which  it  is  safe  to  say 
it  never  wholly  recovered.  A  disaster  that  led  into  captiv 
ity  thousands  of  its  best  and  bravest  men  and  thus  early  in 
the  contest  weakened  the  morale  of  one  of  its  armies  in 
teaching  it  the  bitter  lesson  of  defeat." 

Dr.  Eddy  in  speaking  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  brigade 
says :  "The  Second  Brigade  of  the  First  Division  was  com 
manded  by  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  a  gentleman,  a  brave 
man,  a  noble  leader.  *  *  *  *  Again  and  again  was  this 
brigade  in  whole  or  in  part  in  the  deadly  fray,  and  nobly 
was  upborne  the  dignity  and  glory  of  the  State." 

Captain  I.  P.  Rumsey  of  Taylor's  Battery  and  Assistant 
Adjutant  General  on  General  Wallace's  staff  and  now  an 
honored  resident  of  Chicago,  in  speaking  of  General  Wal 
lace  and  Donelson,  says :  "At  Donelson — that  terrible  night 
— as  we  were  stationed  there  in  front  of  the  rebels,  no  dee 
came  from  the  picket  to  General  Wallace  that  there  was  a 
good  deal  of  motion  and  noise  in  our  front,  and  that  the 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

enemy  were  probably  moving  out  from  their  works.  Gen 
eral  Wallace  and  I  were  lying  in  a  tent  when  the  report  was 
brought.  He  instructed  me  to  order  the  brigade  into  line, 
remarking,  'It  is  too  bad  to  turn  the  boys  out  of  their 
blankets/  It  was  a  terrible  night,  with  its  sleet  and  its 
snow. 

"Nothing,  however,  developed  in  our  front,  and  after 
one  hour  I  again  passed  along  the  line  with  orders  to  lie 
down.  On  the  next  day  as  McArthur's  brigade  was  broken, 
and  Oglesby's  brigade  was  falling  back,  the  rebel  bullets  be 
gan  to  come  along  between  us  and  our  troops,  paralleling 
our  line,  showing  they  were  working  around  in  our  rear ;  I 
made  the  remark,  'they  are  flanking  us  and  will  get  around 
in  our  rear."  General  Wallace  was  a  man  of  few  words 
and  made  no  immediate  reply,  but  presently  said,  'Rumsey, 
you  go  to  McClernand,  tell  him  McArthur  has  broken, 
Oglesby  is  breaking  and  it  is  necessary  to  withdraw  and 
change  our  front,  and  form  a  new  line  to  the  left  and  rear.' 

"I  found  McClernand  and  repeated  what  the  General  had 
told  me,  that  it  was  necessary  to  withdraw  and  change  our 
front,  and  try  to  hold  the  enemy  while  Generals  Oglesby 
and  McArthur  rallied.  He  said,  Tell  General  Wallace  if  it 
is  absolutely  necessary,  to  withdraw  and  form  the  new  line.' 
General  Wallace  then  gave  me  the  order  to  move  the  troops 
by  the  left  flank  and  form  the  new  line  changing  front  to 
the  right.  I  did  so,  and  he  immediately  started  for  the  right, 
where  Colonel  Ranson  with  the  Eleventh  Illinois  was  fight 
ing  hand  to  hand  with  the  rebels. 

"He  then  sent  Davis  of  his  staff  with  word  to  Lew  Wal 
lace,  who  was  lying  to  the  left  and  rear  with  fresh  troops, 
that  had  not  been  engaged  at  all.  Captain  Davis  finding 
General  Lew  Wallace,  gave  him  General  W.  H.  L.  Wal 
lace's  message  to  which  Lew  Wallace  replied,  'I  would  be 
glad  to  see  Wallace  and  any  suggestion  he  has  to  make  will 
be  gladly  received  and  acted  upon/  Receiving  this  answer 
W.  H.  L.  Wallace  rode  rapidly  to  Lew  Wallace — ignoring 
General  McClernard,  his  Division  Commander —  and  point 
ing  out  the  situation  suggested  what  seemed  to  him  neces 
sary  to  save  McClernand's  Division  and  perhaps  the  day; 
which  was  that  he,  Lew  Wallace,  should  bring  his  fresh 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

troops  to  our  front  and  hold  the  rebels  while  we  replen 
ished  ammunition  and  General  Oglesby  and  McArthur  ral 
lied. 

"Forward  they  came,  filed  into  the  right,  about  twenty- 
five  yards  in  front  of  our  brigade,  also  one  section  of  Bat 
tery  A,  which  Colonel  Taylor  placed  on  the  left  of  Battery 
B;  they  had  no  sooner  unlimbered  than  the  rebels  reached 
our  lines  and  the  leaden  hail  flew  wickedly  but  found  more 
ready  ammunition  than  they  expected.  This  suggestion  of 
General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  and  acted  upon  by  General  Lew 
Wallace  so  promptly  was  the  means  of  saving  great  disaster 
and  the  escape  of  the  rebel  army  down  the  river  that  night. 
All  of  which  is  due  to  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  prompt 
action,  even  without  orders,  but  realizing  the  situation  and 
that  with  proper  action  the  right  could  be  saved  and  the 
enemy  held,  he  acted  and  accomplished  what  was  the  means 
of  compelling  their  surrender  on  the  next  morning." 

In  General  Lew  Wallace's  account  of  the  battle  of  Don- 
elson  given  in  his  autobiography  he  speaks  of  this  interview 
with  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  as  follows :  "I  saw,  finally, 
an  officer  riding  slowly  toward  me,  one  leg  thrown  over  the 
horn  of  his  saddle,  and  four  or  five  hundred  men  with  a 
flag  behind  him.  I  galloped  to  meet  him. 

"Good  morning',  I  said,  'May  I  ask  who  you  are?' 

"My  name  is  Wallace,'  he  returned,  stopping. 

"Oh,  you  are  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  Well  my  name 
is  Wallace/ 

"Lew  Wallace,  of  the  Eleventh  Indiana?' 

"The  same. 

"We  shook  hands,  he  saying :  'Our  names  and  the  num 
ber  of  our  regiments — mine  the  Eleventh  Illinois — have 
been  the  cause  of  great  profanity  in  the  post-office.' 

"Mixture  of  letters,  I  suppose?'    'Yes.' 

"I  noted  him  hurriedly,  a  man  above  medium  height, 
florid  in  face,  wearing  a  stubby,  reddish  beard,  with  eyes  of 
a  bluish  cast  and  a  countenance  grave  and  attractive. 

'  'I  take  it,  Colonel,  you  are  getting  out  of  a  tight  place.' 
"  'Yes,  we  are  out  .of  ammunition.'  'That's  bad,'  said  I,  'But 
I  can  help  you.  Down  the  road  by  the  big  tent,  which  is 
mine,  and  at  your  service,  you  will  find  two  wagons.  They, 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

too,  are  mine  and  loaded  with  ammunition.  Help  yourself, 
and  tell  McClernand  to  do  the  same !' 

"  'Thank  you,  I  will  do  it.'  His  men  were  halted ;  facing 
them,  he  called  out  in  a  cheerful  voice,  'Forward!'  'A 
moment,  Colonel,'  I  said,  'Are  the  enemy  following  you?' 
'Yes,'  'How  far  are  they  behind  ?'  Just  then  the  head  of  my 
column  hove  in  view.  The  Colonel  saw  it.  'Are  those 
yours?'  'Yes.'  'Well' — his  face  took  on  an  expression  of 
calculation, — 'you  will  about  have  time  to  form  a  line  of 
battle  here.'  'Is  that  so?  Then  please  give  my  men  room 
to  come — and  good-by,  Colonel,  I'll  see  you  again.' 

"We  shook  hands  and  parted.  A  word  from  one  so  cool 
and  thoughtful  as  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  was  enough. 
The  moment  called  for  action.  I  am  sorry  to  say  I  never 
met  him  again.  His  light  went  out  at  Shiloh." 

An  Ottawa  paper  of  February,  1862,  says :  "W.  H.  L. 
Wallace's  brigade  bore  the  severest  charge  of  the  enemy 
and  to  him,  his  officers,  and  men  under  command  eye  wit 
nesses  give  the  credit  of  doing  most  to  stay  the  desperate 
onslaught  made  by  the  rebels  to  break  through  the  lines." 

Captain  Rumsey  continues:  "Sunday  morning  we  ex 
pected  a  general  charge,  but  report  came  that  the  enemy 
had  surrendered.  General  Wallace  ordered  me  to  form  the 
brigade  and  move  it  forward  -down  the  road  toward  the 
enemy's  lines  while  he  went  forward  to  satisfy  himself  as  to 
the  truth  of  the  report.  When  I  met  him  at  the  enemy's 
works  he  said,  'Rumsey,  it  is  true;  their  arms  are  stacked 
and  they  stand  behind  them',  and  the  look  on  his  face 
showed  a  feeling  far  deeper  than  words  could  express ;  sel 
dom  have  I  seen  a  more  expressive  face  than  his. 

"At  the  head  of  our  brigade  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace 
moved  through  the  works,  and  on  toward  the  river  fort, 
when  several  staff  officers  were  sent  to  him  trying  to  halt 
him;  one  with  great  assurance  and  pomp  rode  up  in  great 
haste,  and  saluting,  stated  that  he  was  from  General  Smith, 
who  ordered  him  to  halt  his  brigade;  General  Wallace 
moved  on  with  great  dignity,  remarking  to  the  officer,  'Gen 
eral  Smith  is  not  my  commander'  and  to  me  he  said,  'I  am 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

going  to  the  fort;  I  commenced  this  battle,  and  it  is  my 
right.' 

"And  he  did  go  and  took  Battery  B  with  him  to  fire  the 
salute  from  the  high  and  strong  river  fort,  when  the  gun 
boats  came  steaming  up  the  river  firing  their  salute.  And 
he  said  to  me  as  we  sat  on  our  horses,  his  face  glowing  with 
satisfaction,  'Rumsey,  this  is  glorious,'  to  which  I  replied, 
'Yes,  General,  but  my  heart  aches  as  I  think  of  the  many 
comrades  and  true  soldiers  lying  on  the  field  who,  forty- 
eight  hours  ago,  were  with  us,"  to  which  he  replied,  'Yes, 
but  they  died  in  a  noble  cause.'  So  all  through  that  dread 
ful  three  days'  battle,  he  showed  his  tender  and  loyal  soul." 

Chaplain  B.  H.  Pearson,  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  writ- 
in  to  the  Christian  Times  from  the  battlefield  of  Donelson, 
said: 

"MESSRS.  EDITORS: — I  take  this  opportunity  to  inform 
my  friends  of  what  my  eyes  have  seen,  and  my  ears  have 
heard,  and  my  heart  has  felt,  in  the  few  days  just  passed. 
I  have  realized  all  that  I  ever  could  imagine  could  be  on  the 
field  of  battle.  I  now  know,  what  I  have  believed,  that  our 
men  love  the  old  flag,  and  would  rather  die  around  it  than 
see  it  dishonored.  Could  you  have  been  with  us  on  the  day 
of  the  recent  great  battle  at  this  place,  you  would  say.  'Can 
it  be  possible  that  this  long  extended  line  of  men  have  no 
love  of  life,  no  fear  of  death?  How  firm  they  stand,  while 
the  leaden  hail  is  flying  like  snow-flakes  all  around  them !' 

"I  was  with  the  surgeon  and  music  of  the  Eleventh  a 
few  paces  in  the  rear  of  the  regiment  where  I  could  see  our 
whole  line,  with  the  Twentieth  and  Thirty-first.  The  lat 
ter  was  the  left  wing  of  the  First  Brigade.  The  Eleventh 
was  the  right  wing  of  the  Second  Brigade  under  command 
of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  I  have  always  thought  the  Colonel 
was  a  cool  man ;  but  could  you  have  seen  him  that  morning, 
on  his  black  steed,  moving  from  one  point  to  another,  direct 
ing  the  conflict  as  composedly  as  if  on  dress-parade,  watch 
ing  every  movement,  you  would  have  said  that  prayer  from 
some  pure  heart  had  been  answered  on  his  behalf.  We  all 
love  him,  and  believe  that  God  owned  him  and  protected 

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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.H.Li  WALLACE 

him  that  day.  And  He  was  not  only  one— Lieutenant-Col 
onel  Ransom  and.  Major  Nevius,  though  younger  in  years, 
exhibited  skill  in  the  art  of  war  equaled  by  few.  In  a  word, 
I  may  say  that  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Eleventh  sur 
passed  the  most  sanguine  expectations  of  their  most  ardent 
admirers." 

In  a  letter  soon  afterwards  Mrs.  Wallace  writes  to  her 
husband :  "I  hope  good  Colonel  Ransom  and  Cyrus  are  bet 
ter.  Tell  them  I  am  thinking  of  them  and  I  think  it  is  more 
honor  to  be  one  of  the  'Eleventh'  after  the  battle  of  Donel- 
son  than  to  be  General  McClellan  himself.  All  Ottawa  and 
all  Illinois  are  proud  of  you  all.  *  *  *  I  should  judge  by 
the  papers  that  you  are  to  really  be  made  a  Brigadier-Gener 
al.  I  am  glad  that  you  are  to  have  the  rank  as  well  as  the 
work  of  the  office.  I  think  you  deserve  the  honor.  I  want 
Colonel  Ransom  to  be  promoted,  too.  Mr.  Earl  said  this 
morning  he  would  not  be  content  until  you  were  made  a 
Major-General." 

Colonel  Wallace  writes  his  wife  the  day  after  the  battle : 

"FORT  DONELSON,  Tenn.,  Feb.  17,  1862. 

"This  has  been  a  day  full  of  sad  offices,  collecting  and 
caring  for  the  wounded,  burying  the  dead  and  doing  all  that 
could  be  done  to  allay  the  distress  of  those  who  suffered  in 
the  terrible  fight.  *  *  *  * 

"I  will  not  attempt  to  give  you  any  details  of  the  terrible 
conflict  through  which  we  have  passed.  The  papers  will 
fully  advise  you  of  that.  It  was  the  greatest  battle  ever 
fought  on  this  continent.  I  hope  the  fruits  of  the  victory 
may  be  the  speedy  restoration  of  peace.  Our  victory,  great 
as  it  is,  and  great  as  I  hope  it  will  be  in  results,  has  been 
dearly  bought.  The  Eleventh  suffered  terribly,  much  more 
than  any  regiment  engaged.  We  buried  on  the  battlefield 
to-day  sixty-eight  belonging  to  the  Eleventh.  ***** 

"The  colors  of  the  regiment  are  riddled  with  shot  and  the 
staff  was  struck  twice  with  bullets,  breaking  off  the  spear  at 
the  top.  The  Color-Sergeant,  McCaleb,  was  shot  down  and 
Color-Corporal  Armstrong  of  Co.  H  seized  it  and  bore  it 

[164] 


FLAG    OF    THE    ELEVENTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY    REGIMENT, 
NOW    IN    THE    LIBRARY    AT    THE    OAKS 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

from  the  field.  Tell  Helen  Fisher  that  the  pledge  I  made 
to  her  when  she  in  behalf  of  the  Ottawa  ladies  presented 
the  flag  to  Co.  I.  has  been  redeemed.  The  Eleventh  lost 
nearly  everything  but  their  flag  and  their  honor.  It  was  the 
first  flag  planted  on  the  inner  fortification  of  Fort  Donel- 
son. 

"The  scenes  here  yesterday  and  to-day  have  been  the 
saddest  and  strangest  ever  seen  on  this  continent.  The 
prisoners  amounting  to  nine  or  ten  thousand  or  perhaps 
more  have  been  marched  in  long  lines  from  their  camps  to 
the  landing  to  be  sent  to  Cairo.  They  are  a  strange  and 
motley  crowd,  but  they  shoot  terribly  sharply.  *  *  *  * 

"Dear  wife,  God  has  indeed  heard  your  prayer  and  that 
of  our  little  innocent.  I  little  expected  when  amid  the  fierce 
storm  of  lead  and  iron  that  beat  around  me  for  hours, 
striking  down  my  men  by  hundreds,  that  I  should  come  off 
unscathed,  but  I  never  thought  of  the  surrounding  dangers 
without  a  mental  prayer  for  mercy  for  myself  and  for  you, 
darling." 

The  flag  of  the  Eleventh  which  had  been  given  by  the 
ladies  of  Ottawa,  a  beautiful  large  silk  one  and  made  by 
them,  to  Co.  I.  and  taken  as  the  regimental  flag,  was  used 
after  the  battle  of  Donelson  at  the  burial  of  sixty-eight 
men  in  one  grave.  It  was  there  presented  to  Colonel  Wal 
lace  as  a  personal  gift,  which  he  sent  home  to  his  wife  to  be 
cared  for  by  her.  She  considered  it  as  one  of  her  most 
valued  possessions.  It  is  now  in  the  library  at  "The  Oaks'* 
— General  Wallace's  late  home. 

Mrs.  Wallace  speaks  in  her  letters  about  the  feeling  in 
Ottawa  towards  the  flag. 

"THE  OAKS,  OTTAWA,  March  6,  1862. 

*****  "Helen  Fisher  says  to  tell  you  that  all  the 
Ottawa  ladies  were  proud  of  the  honor  bestowed  on  that 
flag.  I  am  told  there  has  been  a  large  subscription  taken  up 
in  town  to  get  the  Eleventh  a  new  flag — one  to  be  pur 
chased  in  Chicago,  worth  ninety  dollars." 

In  another  letter  she  says :  "I  will  take  good  care  of  the 
precious  old  flag.  It  on  account  of  its  brave  defenders  is 
almost  worshiped  by  the  Ottawa  people." 

[165] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

On  March  12th  she  writes : 

"The  old  flag  of  the  Eleventh  stands  against  the  arch  in 
the  dining  room  and  is  an  object  of  great  interest  to  all;  it 
is  touched  with  a  feeling  akin  to  awe.  The  new  banner  that 
Cyrus  is  to  take  stood  side  by  side  with  the  old  one  and  to 
day  many  times  the  hope  has  been  expressed  that  its  honor 
might  be  preserved  without  the  fearful  cost  of  life  of  the 
old  one.  *  *  *  *  The  new  flag  is  a  beautiful  blue  silk 
one,  but  not  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  I  suppose  it  is  all  right, 
but  it  was  not  what  I  expected.  There  is  to  be  some  speech, 
making  over  it.  The  old  flag  was  taken  down  to  exhibit 
with  the  new  one.  The  promise  was  made  me  that  no  harm 
should  come  to  my  charge — the  precious  old  flag,  and  I  am 
to  have  it  again  as  soon  as  the  ceremony  is  over." 

Her  brothers,  Cyrus  and  Charlie,  were  home  for  a  few 
days  on  leave.  She  writes  her  husband  on  March  21st:  "I 
have  laid  in  a  new  stock  of  courage  these  few  happy  days — 
I  cannot  be  in  contact  with  the  spirit  of  glorious  self  devo 
tion  that  seems  to  inspire  my  soldier  brothers  without 
catching  a  part  of  the  inspiration  that  sustains  them." 

The  following  letter  from  General  Wallace  to  his  wife  is 
a  relaxation  from  the  tension  of  battle,  but  is  interesting  as 
showing  other  sides  of  army  life  at  the  front : 

"FORT  DONELSON,  TERN.,  Feb.  20,  1862. 
"It  is  eleven  o'clock  at  night.  I  have  just  returned  from 
a  trip  up  the  river  to  Clarksville.  Generals  Grant  and  Mc- 
Clernand  with  several  of  their  staff  went  up  and  I  took  two 
companies  of  my  brigade  (Co.  D.  of  the  Eleventh  and  a 
company  from  the  Twentieth)  with  the  band  of  the 
Eleventh.  It  was  a  pleasant  trip  and  a  great  relief  from 
the  constant  and  heavy  cares  incident  to  our  dearly  bought 
victory.  Clarksville  is  a  beautiful  village  or  town  of  five  or 
six  thousand  inhabitants  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cumber 
land,  forty  miles  above  this  and  within  sixty  miles  of  Nash 
ville.  We  marched  through  the  streets,  but  met  no  welcome 
except  from  the  negroes.  Most  of  the  white  inhabitants 
have  left.  One  house,  where  there  were  pleasant  looking 
ladies  at  the  door,  had  the  British  flag  hung  out. 

[166] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"On  the  way  up  we  met  one  of  our  gunboats  with  Flag- 
officers  Foote  on  board.  I  went  aboard  his  boat  with  the 
Generals.  The  Commodore  met  us  on  crutches.  He  was 
slightly  wounded  at  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Donelson. 
He  inquired  about  you  and  I  gave  him  your  congratulations 
on  his  success  at  Fort  Henry.  He  wished  to  be  remem 
bered.  ***** 

"When  you  write  your  Cousin  Rose  in  Kentucky  tell  her 
that  I  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  Colonel  Roger  Hanson  of 
Paris,  Kentucky,  a  prisoner.  He  is  a  rank  traitor  of  the 
Buckner  school — the  worst  possible  kind. 

"I  have  not  completed  my  official  report  of  the  battle. 
The  list  of  killed  and  wounded  is  fearful.  It  will  reach  six 
hundred  in  my  brigade  alone.  The  Eleventh  lost  seventy- 
five  killed  and  two  hundred  wounded  and  several  missing 
I  felt  indeed  when  looking  at  the  fragment  of  the  regiment 
with  its  tattered  banner  like  Napoleon  did  after  one  of  his 
disastrous  battles,  that  'all  was  lost  but  honor/  I  do  not 
underrate  the  importance  of  the  victory.  I  think  it  is  the 
death  blow  of  the  rebellion  if  rapidly  and  judiciously  fol 
lowed  up — but  I  cannot  but  feel  when  I  look  at  my  own 
regiment,  whose  long  front  I  have  so  often  looked  upon  with 
pride,  now  shortened  of  more  than  half  its  length,  that  it  is 
a  dearly  bought  victory.  May  the  sacrifice  we  have  laid 
upon  the  altar  of  our  country  be  acceptable  to  the  God  of 
battles  and  of  Nations  and  may  He  smile  in  mercy  and 
peace  upon  us  in  the  speedy  restoration  of  our  old  loved 
Union." 


[167] 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

CONGRATULATORY   CORRESPONDENCE.     THE   TROOPS   MOVE 
UP  THE  TENNESSEE  RIVER  TO  SAVANNAH. 

THE  fellow  townsmen  of  Colonel  Wallace  and  Colonel 
Dickey  sent  the  following  letter  of  congratulation  to 
them  over  their  achievements  at  Fort  Donelson : 

"OTTAWA,  Feb.  22,  1862. 
"To  COL.  WILLIAM  H.  L.  WALLACE,  Eleventh  Illinois. 

"Acting  Brig.  General :  and 
"To  COL.  T.  LYLE  DICKEY,  Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry. 

"SiRS: — On  Monday  morning  last  the  gratifying  intelli 
gence  of  the  capture  of  Fort  Donelson  was  flashed  to  us 
along  the  wires.  As  you  well  imagine,  so  important  and 
pregnant  an  event  threw  our  citizens  into  the  wildest  ex 
citement,  and  men  soon  gave  themselves  up  to  mutual  con 
gratulations,  rejoicings  and  thanks  to  the  brave  men  by 
whom  it  was  accomplished. 

"All  seemed  to  regard  this  crowning  victory  as  a  sure 
guaranty  of  an  enduring  Union. 

"Our  rejoicings  were  dampened,  it  is  true,  by  intelligence 
of  the  loss  of  many  brave  men  who  have  fallen  in  the  con 
test,  conspicuous  among  whom  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  Er- 
win,  whose  remains  were  deposited  in  their  last  resting  place 
here  on  yesterday  with  appropriate  funeral  ceremonies. 

"Duke  et  decorum  est  pro  patria  mori. 

"We  embrace  this  earliest  opportunity  of  congratulating 
you  and  the  gallant  soldiers  of  your  respective  commands, 
upon  the  late  brilliant  achievements  in  which  you  and  they 
have  well  acted  so  conspicuous  a  part. 

"Rest  assured  that  in  our  rejoicings  to-day  the  soldierly 
deeds  of  our  Illinois  Volunteers  are  remembered,  and  our 
prayers  shall  be  offered,  that  on  other  fields  they  may 
gather  new  honors,  and  when  the  contest  shall  be  ended 
(as  end  it  must)  in  'unconditional  surrender'  to  the  Old 
Honored  Flag  of  the  Union,  you  may  all  return  to  your 

[168] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

homes  to  receive  from  numberless  friends  the  welcome  due 
the  soldier,  who  has  fully  answered  his  country's  call. 

"With  emotions  of  pride,  we  subscribe  ourselves,  your 
fellow  citizens  and  friends. 

S.  W.  Cheever.  G.  S.  Stebbins. 

Wm.  Reddick.  J.  V.  A.  Hoes. 

H.  F.  Eames.  H.  M.  Swift. 

Wm.  Osman.  J.  D.  Caton. 

T.  Hampton.  L.  Leland. 

D.Walker.  W.  E.  Hollister. 

O.  C.  Gray.  W.  Bushnell. 

E.  L.  Waterman.  A.  W.  Cavalry. 

J.  O.  Glover.  J.  Avery. 

P.  K.  Leland.  A.  B.  Moore. 

E.  C.  Henshaw.  J.  F.  Nash." 

J.  C.  Champlin. 

In  answer  to  this  letter  Colonel  Wallace  writes : 

"SAVANNAH,  TENN.,  March  18,  1862.' 
"J.  V.  A.  HOES,  H.  M.  SWIFT,  and  others,  Ottawa. 

"GENTLEMEN: — Your  letter  of  the  22d  ult.,  addressed  to 
myself  and  Col.  Dickey,  congratulatory  of  the  victory  at 
Fort  Donelson,  is  just  received.  If  there  is  anything  more 
gratifying  then  the  consciousness  of  having  fulfilled  a  duty, 
it  is  the  commendation  of  those  to  whom  we  are  best 
known,  and  whose  good  opinion  we  prize.  I  thank  you 
sincerely  for  your  timely  remembrance  of  this  fact,  and  the 
graceful  and  patriotic  manner  in  which  you  have  conveyed 
your  congratulations. 

"Illinois  indeed  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  her  soldiers. 
In  every  field  in  which  they  have  had  an  opportunity  they 
have  added  new  laurels  to  those  the  State  already  bore; 
and  when  the  Union  is  again  perfect,  and  the  old,  honored 
flag  again  hailed  as  the  national  ensign  from  the  shores  of 
New  England  to  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  and  from  the 
Falls  of  St.  Anthony  to  the  capes  of  Florida,  the  part  that 
Illinois  has  borne  in  the  sacred  work  will  be  just  matter  of 
pride  to  every  loyal  citizen  in  the  state. 

"Hoping  that  the  consummation  we  all  so  devoutly  wish 

[169] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

for  may  soon  come  and  that  we  in  the  field  may  return  to 
receive  those  thanks  you  promise,  I  remain, 

"Very  respectfully, 

"Your  friend, 
"W.  H.  L.  WALLACE." 

Colonel  Dickey  also  answers  the  letter. 

"!N  CAMP,  NEAR  PITTSBURG,  TENN.,  March  27,  1862. 
"S.  W.  CHEEVER,  J.  V.  A.  HOES  and  others  :— 

"GENTLEMEN  : — By  reason  of  my  absence  from  camp  on 
account  of  illness  brought  on  by  exposure  during  the  siege 
of  Donelson,  your  kind  letter  (of  the  22d  of  February  ad 
dressed  to  Colonel  Wallace  and  myself)  was  not  put  into 
my  hands  until  this  day.  I  assure  you  the  approving  words 
of  'fellow  citizens  and  friends'  and  their  congratulations  (to 
me  and  the  brave  men  of  my  command  upon  the  achieve 
ment  in  which  we  bore  an  humble  part),  fell  gratefully  upon 
our  hearts. 

"It  did  not  fall  to  the  lot  of  my  command  to  take  a  very 
active  part  in  the  scenes  of  the  heaviest  fighting.  Their 
principal  service  was  rendered  in  leading  the  first  advance 
upon  the  ground  in  forming  our  line  of  battle,  and  in  fre 
quent  reconnoissances ;  and  on  the  afternoon  of  the  last  day 
of  the  fight  it  turned  out  that  our  presence  upon  a  leading 
road  in  front  of  the  enemy  held  him  in  check  until  our  in 
fantry  reinforcements  were  brought  up,  before  which  the 
enemy  at  last  retired  within  their  trenches. 

"For  the  encouragement  of  my  command  in  bold  and 
gallant  deeds,  I  will  cause  your  very  kind  letter  to  be  read 
at  the  head  of  the  regiment.  Hoping  that  the  old  honored 
flag  of  the  Union  may  soon  wave  triumphant  over  every 
foot  of  our  whole  land,  and  that  God  in  his  mercy  will  unite 
the  hearts  of  all  our  people  in  fraternal  affection,  I  remain 
very  respectfully,  your  fellow  citizen  and  friend, 

"T.  LYLE  DICKEY." 

Colonel  Wallace  writing  to  his  wife  tells  of  an  interest 
ing  trip  to  Nashville  and  conditions  there  as  the  result  of 
the  victory  at  Donelson. 

[170] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"FoRT  DONELSON,  Feb.  28,  1862. 

"I  have  just  returned  from  Nashville.  I  went  up  on  the 
steamer  W.  H.  B.  with  Generals  Grant  and  McClernand 
and  staffs,  Colonel  Lauman  of  the  Seventh  Iowa,  Captain 
Taylor  of  Chicago  and  others.  The  weather  was  beautiful 
and  the  trip  a  very  pleasant  one.  We  found  Nashville  a 
most  beautiful  city  with  a  magnificent  capitol  building  and, 
better  than  all,  the  old  flag  waving  over  it.  The  city  had 
been  occupied  two  days  before  by  a  part  of  General  Buell's 
army,  the  last  of  the  'secesh'  army  moving  out  as  our  troops 
came  in  sight.  There  were  unfinished  fortifications  below 
the  city,  the  guns  were  left  standing. 

"Our  victory  here  is  a  very  great  one.  Bowling  Green, 
Clarksville  and  Nashville,  all  strong  places,  have  all  been 
evacuated  as  the  result  of  our  success  here  at  Donelson,  and 
it  now  seems  probable  that  Columbus  will  fall  from  the  ef 
fects  of  the  same  blow.  Te  Deum  laudamus.  Let  the  peo 
ple  praise  Him. 

"At  Nashville  I  found  some  eighty-five  of  our  wounded 
soldiers  who  had  been  taken  prisoners  and  carried  away  by 
the  enemy.  Among  them  were  about  forty  belonging  to  the 
Eleventh.  It  would  have  done  you  good  to  see  the  poor 
fellows'  faces  brighten  when  they  saw  me.  Scarce  one  of 
them  but  shed  tears  when  I  shook  hands  with  them.  I 
found  them  comfortably  quartered  and  well  cared  for,  al 
though  some  of  them  were  suffering  for  want  of  surgical 
attention  to  their  wounds.  Few  of  them  are  dangerously 
wounded  and  they  all  agree  that  they  received  kind  treat 
ment  from  the  enemy.  I  made  arrangements  for  medical 
and  surgical  attendance  at  once.  ****** 

"In  company  with  General  McClernand  I  called  on  Mrs. 
Polk,  the  widow  of  President  Polk.  She  is  "secesh,"  but  a 
very  ladylike  person.  I  plucked  a  daffodil  from  her  garden 
and  enclose  it  co  you  in  this  letter." 

An  interesting  letter  is  here  given  from  General  Wallace 
to  his  friend,  Judge  Champlin,  who  had  written  to  him  of 
the  affairs  agitating  the  public  mind,  and  also  refers  to  the 
wish  for  General  Wallace  to  run  for  Congress  when  his 
other  duties  permitted. 

[171] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"FoRT  DONELSON,  TENN.,  March  3,  1862. 
"HoN.  J.  C.  CHAMPLIN, 
"OTTAWA,  ILL. 

"DEAR  CHAMP: — "I  ought  to  have  replied  to  your  long 
letter  long  since,  but  a  press  of  other  duties  has  prevented — 
and  now  I  am  again  under  marching  orders  to  leave  at 
seven  o'clock  to-morrow  morning  for  a  point  on  the  Tennes 
see  river  seven  miles  below  Fort  Henry,  so  that  I  am  in  no 
condition  to  write  an  answer  to  your  elaborate  letter.  Hav 
ing  a  few  moments  leisure,  however,  I  drop  you  a  line  for 
'Auld  Lang  Syne.' 

"You  seem  to  be  anticipating  a  state  of  facts  which  may 
soon  arise,  i.  e.,  what  to  do  with  the  rebels  after  we  have 
conquered  them.  That  same  question  seems  to  be  troubling 
our  secession  friends  just  now.  A  few  weeks  ago,  the  as 
sertion  was — 'You  can  never  subdue  the  South !'  Now  they 
ask — 'What  are  you  going  to  do  with  us  after  you  have  con 
quered  us?'  They  are  not  conquered  yet,  though  they  have 
received  some  heavy  blows  lately.  But  they  want  to  be 
more  thoroughly  and  soundly  whipped.  They  hate  us  suffi 
ciently,  but  they  do  not  fear  us  enough  yet.  They  do  not 
despise  us  as  much  as  they  did,  but  we  must  whip  them 
harder  before  they  will  have  a  decent  respect  for  us.  When 
we  have  once  more  convinced  them  that  we  can  whip  them, 
we  may  then  live  on  friendly  terms  with  them,  but  never 
till  then.  If  the  successes  of  the  last  few  weeks  are  vigor 
ously  followed  up,  we  will  soon  reach  a  point  where  peace 
is  possible,  but  if  we  falter  here,  or  hesitate  even,  all  that 
has  been  gained  by  the  recent  victories  will  soon  be  lost.  I 
trust  in  God  that  the  men  at  the  helm  will  push  things  vigor 
ously  to  the  desired  consummation. 

"Among  the  many  projects  for  disposing  of  the  traitors 
and  punishing  the  treason  that  have  been  broached,  yours  is 
perhaps  as  perfect  as  any.  It  may  be  open  to  the  objection 
that  it  is  too  complicated,  but  this  is  a  complex  business  and 
much  machinery  may  be  necessary  to  work  it  off  success 
fully.  The  project  of  instituting  territorial  governments  for 
the  rebel  States  as  fast  as  they  are  conquered  is  open  to  the 
objection  that  such  governments  would  be  required  to  be 

[172] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

supported  by  armed  force  forever.  Perhaps  however,  that 
would  not  be  the  case  if  the  people  were  thoroughly  sub 
dued  now.  A  few  such  damaging  blows  as  this  at  Fort 
Donelson  would  bring  the  mass  of  the  people  to  submit  to 
almost  any  government  that  gave  them  security  and  pro 
tected  their  property.  I  do  not  find  in  the  masses  here  any 
lingering  memory  or  a  love  for  the  old  flag  and  the  old 
Government.  In  fact  the  present  generation  has  been 
reared  in  hatred  to  the  government,  and  I  think  no  reliance 
can  be  placed  on  any  supposed  suppressed  Union  feelings 
here.  Nothing  but  the  stern  iron  rule  of  the  strongest  can 
ever  give  anything  like  security.  It  is  bound  to  be  a  'Union 
pinned  together  with  bayonets.'  The  picture  is  gloomy 
enough,  but  it  is  too  truthful. 

"But  enough  of  this — how  are  you  all  getting  along? 
How  is  Bush  and  Gray  and  Lindley  and  the  boys  generally? 
Didn't  we  whip  them  gloriously  here?  Beat  'em  on  their 
own  ground — hunted  them  to  their  holes — whipped  'em  be 
hind  their  entrenchments — 22,000  of  them  protected  by 
earthworks  and  cannon,  whipped  out  of  their  own  trenches 
by  less  than  30,000  outsiders.  No  wonder  the  scare  ex 
tended  all  over  the  South  and  sent  the  army  of  Bowling 
Green  rushing  back  through  Nashville,  and  never  halting 
until  it  got  into  the  Gulf  states.  Another  blow  or  two  like 
this  will  destroy  their  reliance  on  their  boasted  chivalry. 

"You  ask  me  to  give  you  a  programme.  I  have  none.  I 
am,  as  you  know,  no  politician,  and  what's  more,  I  haven't 
any  politics,  except  to  restore  the  old  order  of  things  as 
speedily  and  effectually  as  possible.  If  in  the  course  of  the 
next  two  or  three  months  the  necessity  of  active  military 
operations  is  gone  and  I  can  rightly  return  home,  I  think 
I  shall  enjoy  above  all  things  staying  there.  Never  have  I 
known  such  a  longing  for  the  peace  and  quietness  of  home. 
If  then  it  should  be  deemed  proper  and  right  that  I  should 
go  to  Congress  and  nobody  would  be  hurt  by  my  so  doing, 
why  I  would  go,  but  I  think  I  never  shall  enter  into  the  in 
trigues  and  double  dealing  which  has  been  necessary  for 
political  success.  The  game  isn't  worth  the  candle. 

"Give  my  regards  to  all  our  mutual  friends.    Write  me 

[173] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

when  you  have  leisure  and  feel  inclined.  I  agree  with  you 
perfectly  as  to  Bush.*  He  has  brains  and  what  is  a  rarer 
and  higher  virtue,  he  is  reliable.  Give  him  my  very  best  re 
gards.  "Yours  truly, 

"W.  H.  L.  WALLACE." 

The  larger  part  of  the  Western  Army  embarked  on 
transports  and  went  up  the  Tennessee  river,  and  in  less  than 
a  month  occurred  the  great  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing. 
Colonel  Wallace  writes  his  wife  of  the  movement  of  the 
troops. 

"STEAMER  BELLE  MEMPHIS,  Tenn.,  River, 
"5  Miles  above  Ft.  Henry,  March  8,  1862. 

"We  were  two  days  getting  here  from  Donelson,  a  very 
rough,  disagreable  march.  Here  the  Eleventh  and  Twentieth 
regiments  embarked  on  this  boat  and  have  been  lying  here 
ever  since.  My  whole  brigade  is  embarked,  the  Forty-fifth 
on  the  /.  H.  Dickey,  the  Forty-eighth  on  the  Henry  Chat 
eau,  Taylor's  battery  on  the  Silver  Moon,  three  companies 
of  the  Fourth  Cavalry  on  T.  L.  Magill  and  two  other  com 
panies  of  the  Fourth  on  the  Aleck  Scott.  Colonel  Ross's 
brigade  is  also  embarked  and  Colonel  Oglesby's  brigade  is 
expected  here  to-night  or  to-morrow.  Generals  Hurlbut's, 
Smith's  and  Wallace's  divisions  will  also  embark  here,  all 
bound  up  the  Tennessee  river. 

"I  have  been  quite  ill  for  two  or  three  days.  A  bilious 
attack  coupled  with  lumbago  induced  by  the  severe  expos 
ure  of  the  last  two  months.  I  am  getting  better,  however. 
The  weather  is  becoming  more  pleasant  and  I  hope  a  day  or 
two  will  restore  me  completely.  The  prospect  is  now  that 
we  will  be  aboard  of  the  boats  for  two  or  three  days  yet 
and  by  that  time  I  hope  to  be  able  to  stand  the  exposure.  I 
pray  God  for  strength  and  wisdom  to  enable  me  to  do  my 
whole  duty  toward  the  country  in  this  her  hour  of  peril.  I 
shall  endeavor  to  discharge  that  duty  with  a  firm  reliance 
on  God's  all  wise  providence,  that  it  will  result  in  good  in 
carrying  out  His  Sovereign  will. 

*Washington  •  Bushnell  was  a  prominent  lawyer  of  Ottawa,  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  State's  Attorney  and  the  first  Attorney 
General  of  the  State  of  Illinois. 

[174] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"I  learn  unofficially  that  I  am  to  be  a  Brigadier.  I  do  not 
feel  like  exulting.  I  know  the  added  responsibility  of  the 
position  and  pray  for  strength  to  fill  it.  I  feel  the  need  of 
Divine  aid  more  than  I  ever  have  done,  and  feel  a  more 
living  active  faith  in  God's  protection  than  ever.  Pray  for 
me  *  *  *  *  i  feei  that  your  prayers  can  aid  me  when 
most  I  need  aid.  I  know  your  fervent  piety  and  appreciate 
the  fulness  and  purity  of  your  love  for  me  and  our  cause." 
In  a  letter  of  March  20th,  he  writes  again : 
"It  is  eleven  months  since  I  left  home.  In  that  time  I 
have  spent  six  or  seven  days  at  home.  I  have  felt  the  de 
privation  much  as  you  have.  It  has  shown  me,  however, 
some  lovely  phases  in  your  character  that  I  might  otherwise 
never  have  known.  May  the  Good  God  in  whom  we  trust 
so  overrule  events  that  this  unhappy  war  may  soon  be  hon 
orably  and  rightly  ended  and  we  be  permitted  again  to  en 
joy  the  pleasure  of  our  home  together.  In  His  hands  are 
the  issues  of  life  and  death.  He  raises  up  and  puts  down 
nations,  and  however  individuals  may  be  disposed  of  I  feel 
an  abiding  faith  that  the  end  will  be  the  furtherance  of  His 
will  on  earth.  Our  Father  who  art  in  Heaven  will  take 
care  of  His  children  and  do  with  them  whatever  is  best." 

After  the  transports  arrived  at  their  destination  on  the 
Tennessee  river  Colonel  Wallace  writes  of  their  new  sur 
roundings  to  his  wife : 

SAVANNAH,  TENN.,  March  14,  1862. 
"You  will  wonder  where  I  am  when  you  look  at  the 
heading  of  this  letter.  Take  a  map  of  the  United  States 
and  follow  up  the  Tennessee  river  till  you  get  within  twenty 
miles  of  the  Alabama  line  and  there  on  the  east  side  of  the 
river  you  will  see  marked  Savannah,  the  county  seat  of 
Hardin  County.  It  is  a  quiet,  sober  looking  old  town,  with 
a  single  street,  a  square  brick  court  house,  a  number  of 
buildings  scattered  along  the  street,  with  some  pretty  and 
rather  stylish  residences  in  the  suburbs.  There  is  a  majori 
ty  of  Union  people  here.  Most  of  the  people  have  remained 
at  home  and  not  run  away  like  they  did  from  Clarksville 
and  other  places  on  the  Cumberland. 

[175] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"We  got  here  two  or  three  days  ago  and  lay  on  the 
transports  till  yesterday,  when  Colonel  Ross'  brigade  and 
mine  landed  and  went  into  camp  just  back  of  the  town.  I 
have  my  headquarters  in  a  house  in  the  outskirts  of  the 
town.  It  is  occupied  by  a  young  man  named  Seaman,  with 
several  blacks.  He  is  a  very  civil,  gentlemanly  fellow  and 
offered  me  his  house  and  the  use  of  his  servants  for  myself 
and  staff.  *  *  *  *  We  hear  a  great  many  rumors 
here  as  you  doubtless  do  at  home,  but  I  suppose  the  truth 
to  be  that  the  enemy  are  in  force  at  Eastport  or  near  there, 
which  is  twenty-five  or  thirty  miles  above  here.  Some  of 
our  forces  have  gone  up  the  river  and  we  may  go  soon,  but 
that  will  depend  on  circumstances  of  course.  General  C.  F. 
Smith  is  still  in  command  of  the  expedition  but  I  under 
stand  General  Grant  will  be  up  in  a  few  days  to  take  com 
mand.  *  *  *  *  I  do  hope  this  wicked  war  is  nearly 
over  and  that  I  may  soon  return  to  you.  It  is  pleasant  to 
receive  the  commendations  of  the  public  for  services  ren 
dered,  but  I  would  more  enjoy  a  kind  word  and  loving 
caress  from  you  than  all  the  honors  that  military  service 
could  win."  In  a  later  letter  he  writes :  "I  want  to  see  you 
and  the  dear  ones  at  home,  but  I  know  you  don't  want  to 
see  me,  if  to  do  so  I  must  leave  my  post  here  when  I  ought 
not  to.  I  really  hope  I  may  see  you  consistently  with  duty 
before  very  long." 

On  March  21st  Colonel  Wallace  received  his  com 
mission  as  Brigadier-General  of  Volunteers.  But  no 
sooner  did  he  acquire  one  position  than  he  was  advanced  to 
another,  as  was  his  fate  in  the  Mexican  war  in  lesser  de 
grees.  On  the  following  day  after  receiving  his  commission 
he  writes  to  his  wife,  March  22d :  "There  will  probably  be 
some  changes  in  our  organization.  General  Grant  to-day 
intimated  that  he  intended  to  put  me  in  command  of  a  divi 
sion.  This  may  or  may  not  be  done.  I  should  be  gratified 
on  some  accounts  and  sorry  for  it  on  others.  *  *  *  * 
In  any  event  I  shall  strive  to  do  my  duty  relying  on  Our 
Father  for  strength,  courage  and  wisdom  to  aid  me. 

"When  the  changes  are  made  I  will  advise  you  as  to 
what  my  command  is  and  under  whose  direct  orders  I  act, 

[176] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

so  that  you  may  keep  the  run  of  things  as  they  may  appear 
in  the  newspapers." 

Mrs.  Wallace  writes  from  her  home  in  Ottawa: — 

"March  21st. 

"Sometimes,  Will,  I  can  hardly  restrain  myself,  I  feel  as 
if  I  must  go  to  you,  more  so  when  I  think  of  you  sick.  It 
seems  wrong  to  enjoy  every  comfort  of  a  good  home  and 
you  sick  in  tents.  Is  it  indeed  my  duty  to  stay  so  far  back 
and  wait  so  anxiously  ?" 

On  March  24th  she  writes  again  in  the  same  vein:  "I 
am  thinking  earnestly  of  trying  to  go  to  you  with  Eaton. 
*  *  *  *  If  he  does  not  throw  cold  water  on  the  project  I 
will  go  with  him."  When  she  heard  that  her  husband  was 
likely  to  be  put  in  command  of  a  division  she  wrote : 

"OTTAWA,  March  28,  1862. 

"*  *  *  *  I  am  surprised  to  know  of  the  chance  of  your 
commanding  a  division.  I  know,  dearest,  you  will  honor 
the  position  as  you  always  have  those  you  have  held  hereto 
fore." 

When  Colonel  Wallace  received  his  commission  as  Brig 
adier-General  he  asked  his  old  friend,  R.  E.  Goodell  of 
Joliet,  who  had  campaigned  with  him  through  the  Mexican 
war  and  was  a  very  close  friend,  to  take  a  position  on  his 
staff.  Mr.  Goodell's  business  affairs  were  such  that  he 
could  not  accept.  He  writes  General  Wallace  the  following 
letter : 

"ST.  Louis,  March  31,  1862. 
"DEAR  WALLACE: 

"Your  kind  letter  of  the  eighth  came  to  hand  yesterday. 
I  regret  exceedingly  that  my  business  matters  are  now  in 
such  a  shape  that  I  cannot  accept  the  position  you  have  so 
kindly  tendered  me.  Although  I  have  had  several  positions 
offered  me  in  the  army,  none  have  so  tempted  me  as  the 
one  you  now  offer,  not  so  much  the  position  as  the  associa 
tion.  Your  command  has  many  of  my  warm  friends  in  it 

[177] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

and  to  think  that  I  would  be  with  you  and  Colonel  Dickey 
again  and  renew  in  the  same  field  the  old  ties  which  were 
made  so  strong  there,  and  it  seems  to  me  grown  stronger 
every  day  since ;  it  is  really  hard  for  me  to  decline. 

"When  I  met  you  at  Fort  Donelson  I  supposed  our  con 
tract  here  would  close  in  a  short  time,  and  had  I  not  taken 
another  before  I  had  an  intimation  of  your  tendering  me 
the  appointment,  I  should  have  at  once  closed  this  one  and 
joined  you,  but  on  my  way  home  my  partners  insisted  upon 
my  going  to  Louisville  and  try  to  get  the  contract  there  for 
furnishing  Buell's  department  with  forage,  which  I  succeed 
ed  in  doing,  and  that  ties  me  up  close  for  some  time. 

"I  regret  that  your  letter  did  not  come  to  hand  earlier.  It 
was  forwarded  to  me  at  Louisville,  but  I  left  before  it  ar 
rived  ;  it  was  forwarded  here  and  I  did  not  get  it  until  I  re 
turned  here  Saturday  evening.  I  hope  it  has  not  put  you  to 
any  inconvenience. 

"Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  promotion.  Your 
prophecy  of  the  last  summer  was  true.  You  said  to  me  you 
would  not  receive  a  promotion  until  it  was  earned.  No  ap 
pointment  in  our  State  has  given  more  general  satisfaction 
than  yours. 

"You  have  undoubtedly  noticed  that  the  Congressional 
convention  has  separated  our  county  (Will)  from  La  Salle 
in  Congressional  apportionment.  I  am  sorry  they  have.  I 
met  Judge  Davis  here  yesterday,  who  says  you  are  the  man 
to  run  there,  and  you  must  do  it,  if  the  war  ends  so  you  can 
attend  to  it.  He  thinks  there  would  be  no  question  about 
your  election.  Swett  will  be  elected  in  that  district  and  I 
think  Norton  in  ours.  If  possible,  I  shall  visit  you  during 
the  coming  month.  Truly  your  friend, 

"R.  E.  GOODELL." 


[178] 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

GENERAL  WALLACE'S  COMMAND  MOVES  TO  PITTSBURG  LAND 
ING.     MRS.  WALLACE'S  JOURNEY  TO  PITTSBURG 
LANDING. 

ON   March  twenty-fourth,   General  Wallace  with  his 
command  left  Savannah  for  Pittsburg  Landing,  ten 
miles  above  on  the  Tennessee  river.     From  there  he 
writes  his  wife  of  his  new  camp  surroundings. 

"!N  CAMP  NEAR  PITTSBURG,  TENN.,  March  25,  1862. 

«*  *  *  *  There  is  a  large  force  here  and  the  camp 
covers  several  miles  in  extent.  General  Sherman's  division 
is  the  most  advanced,  ours  next."  *  *  *  *  On  March 
twenty-seventh  he  writes:  "This  has  been  a  most  lovely 
day,  like  May  or  June,  except  that  there  are  no  leaves. 
The  early  wild-flowers  are  in  bloom,  but  otherwise  all  is  yet 
dead  in  the  woods.  I  spent  all  the  fore  part  of  the  day  in 
my  tent  writing  and  attending  to  the  thousand  details  that 
constantly  require  attention.  I  have  my  headquarters  in 
tents  in  rear  of  my  brigade.  The  brigade  is  encamped  on  a 
gentle  ridge  in  front — that  is,  the  four  infantry  regiments. 
Just  in  rear  of  them  is  a  depression  in  which  there  is  a 
stream  of  water  in  wet  weather,  and  there  is  water  enough 
now  in  it  for  the  men.  This  side  of  the  quarters  is  another 
gentle  ridge  on  which  is  my  headquarters  in  four  tents — 
two  Sibley  tents,  one  for  myself  and  one  for  the  Adjutant's 
office.  A  Fremont  tent  to  eat  in  and  a  common  tent  for  the 
orderlies.  My  military  family  consists  of  Captain  Hotch- 
kiss,  Assistant  Adjutant-General,  Lieutenant  Davis;  Quar 
termaster,  Lieutenant  Rumsey;  Aide-de-camp,  Beckwith; 
Secretary,  Church ;  Brigade  Postmaster  and  Chief  of  Order 
lies,  a  sergeant  and  five  men  from  the  Fourth  cavalry  for 
orderlies;  Jim,  the  cook;  Hartley  (body  servant),  and  Ned, 
the  Irishman  who  takes  care  of  my  horses. 

"To  the  left  of  headquarters  and  nearby  is  Taylor's  bat 
tery,  and  immediately  in  the  rear  is  Colonel  McCullough's 

[179] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

camp  with  five  companies  of  the  Fourth  cavalry.  My  bri 
gade  is  in  the  center  of  the  division,  Colonel  Oglesby's  be 
ing  on  my  right  and  Colonel  Ross'  on  my  left.  It  is  the 
prettiest  camping  ground  we  have  had  since  we  have  been 
in  the  service  and  we  are  improving  this  fine  weather  in 
drilling  and  fitting  the  men  for  service." 

General  Wallace  writes  his  wife  on  April  third  of  his 
being  placed  in  command  of  a  division. 

"PITTSBURG,  TENN.,  April  3,  1862. 

«*  *  *  *  j  have  just  been  ordered  to  assume  com 
mand  of  General  Smith's  division,  he  being  sick — I  suppose 
this  is  merely  temporary,  but  it  may  be  otherwise.  The  di 
vision  consists  of  fourteen  regiments  of  infantry,  four  bat 
teries  and  two  battalions  of  cavalry.  It  is  a  compliment  to 
be  placed  in  such  a  command,  though  I  feel  a  good  deal  of 
embarrassment  in  attempting  to  fill  the  place  of  such  a  man 
as  General  Smith.  *  *  *  *  I  have  not  sought  the 
place  and  am  disinclined  to  take  it,  but  I  suppose  there  is 
no  help  for  it.  I  assume  my  new  command  to-morrow.  I 
take  with  me  my  staff,  Captains  Hotchkiss  and  Davis  and 
Lieutenant  Rumsey.  Cyrus  is  going  on  my  staff  as  soon  as 
he  can  be  spared  from  the  Eleventh.  No  sight  on  earth 
would  afford  me  more,  pleasure  than  that  of  your  face,  but 
I  feel  that  I  must  not  now  expect  that  pleasure  and  if  you 
were  here  I  should  feel  that  every  moment  devoted  to  you 
was  stolen  from  my  duty.  *  *  *  *  You  must  not 
think  of  coming  here.  We  are  in  camp,  very  busy  with 
preparations  to  leave  and  liable  to  be  ordered  off  at  any 
hour." 

Mrs.  Wallace's  young  brother,  Charlie,  writes  from 
Pittsburg  Landing;  he  was  in  his  father's  (Colonel  Dick 
ey's)  Fourth  cavalry  regiment: 

"PITTSBURG  LANDING,  TENNV  April  4,  1862. 
"I  have  been  here  just  about  a  week  and  am  now  with 
Major  Bowman's  battalion  bugling  for  him.     It  keeps  me 
pretty  busy,  as  there  is  no  bugler  to  relieve  me,  and  I  have 

[180] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

to  be  on  the  lookout  all  the  time  for  fear  of  playing  a  call 
out  of  time.  The  weather  is  rather  uncomfortable  warm  in 
the  daytime,  but  the  nights  are  delicious,  just  cool  enough 
to  sleep  well.  *  *  *  *  It  must  be  very  healthy  here, 
for  the  sick  boys  are  all  getting  well  and  the  doctors  have 
scarcely  anything  to  do.  Nothing  of  interest  is  going  on  ex 
cept  reviews.  This  battalion  has  been  reviewed  three  times 
in  the  last  three  days,  and  to-day  Major  Wallace's  battalion 
is  going  through  the  same.  It  is  very  tiresome  and  seems 
to  me  to  be  useless.  *  *  *  *  There  seems  to  be  move 
ments  of  troops  going  on  up  the  river,  Buell's  troops  I  be 
lieve,  but  everything  is  kept  secret  and  of  course,  nothing 
is  certain. 

"There  will  be  a  fight  very  soon  and  not  far  from  Cor 
inth,  I  expect." 

The  day  before  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  General  Wallace 
writes  to  his  wife : 

"PITTSBURG  LANDING,  April  5,  1862. 

«*  *  *  *  j  have  assumed  command  of  General 
Smith's  division  during  his  illness.  It  is  a  great  responsi 
bility  and  does  not  set  easy  on  me  yet.  Last  evening  there 
was  a  skirmish  in  front  of  General  Sherman's  division,  a 
few  wounded  and  a  few  prisoners  taken.  It  caused  a  good 
deal  of  excitement  in  camp.  The  long  roll  was  beaten  and 
several  divisions  formed  in  line.  I  had  my  division  ready, 
but  did  not  turn  out.  The  night  was  dark  and  rainy,  and 
about  11  o'clock  I  rode  out  three  miles  to  General  Sher 
man's  quarters  with  Colonel  McPherson  of  General  Hal- 
leek's  staff.  We  found  everything  quiet  and  the  General 
in  fine  spirits.  He  had  driven  the  enemy  back  some  three 
or  four  miles  when  his  advance  came  onto  their  battery. 
He  lost  no  men  killed,  three  or  four  wounded,  and  ten  taken 
prisoners  or  missing.  He  killed  several  of  the  enemy, 
wounded  a  good  many  and  took  some  ten  or  twelve  pris 
oners.  All  is  quiet  this  morning. 

"There  has  been  a  re-assignment  of  cavalry  and  artillery 
— eight  companies  of  the  Fourth  cavalry  are  attached  to 
General  Sherman's  division,  and  I  suppose  your  Pa  will 
have  command  of  them.  Three  companies  of  the  First  bat- 

[181] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

talion  remain  in  General  McClernand's  division.  Martin 
(Major  Wallace)  will  be  with  General  Sherman.  Taylor's 
battery  is  also  assigned  to  General  Sherman's  division.  I 
feel  very  bad  at  leaving  my  old  brigade,  and  especially  the 
Eleventh.  It  seems  like  breaking  up  of  a  family.  But  I 
suppose  the  good  of  the  service  requires  it,  at  all  events,  it 
is  ordered,  and  that  is  law. 

«*  *  *  *  jt  js  verv  fought  and  warm  to-day  after 
the  rain  and  storm  of  last  night.  Vegetation  is  coming  for 
ward  very  rapidly.  The  leaves  on  the  trees  are  forming, 
but  not  yet  fully  developed.  I  suppose  it  is  a  great  ways 
ahead  of  things  at  home  in  that  regard.  I  wish  I  could  see 
that  pleasant  home  for  a  while,  but  I  must  not  think  of  it 
now.  I  trust  in  God  that  it  may  not  be  long  ere  we  are 
again  united  in  that  quiet,  pleasant  home,  sanctified  by  your 
love  and  to  which  I  turn  constantly  as  the  place  of  all  others 
on  earth  the  most  desirable." 

While  this  letter  was  being  penned  General  Wallace's 
wife  was  but  a  day's  distance  from  his  camp,  speeding  up 
the  Tennessee  river  as  fast  as  steam  could  bring  her.  But 
how  she  came  to  be  there  will  be  told  in  her  own  words, 
written  at  the  request  of  a  friend  many  years  after  the 
events  noted: 

"After  the  battle  of  Donelson  my  husband  was  miserable 
and  ill  from  the  care,  exposure  and  fatigue  of  that  four 
days'  battle,  unprotected  in  inclement  weather,  and  confined 
to  the  bed  some  days.  He  soon  got  out  and  able  for  duty, 
but  headache  and  lumbago  hung  around  him.  I  heard  of 
his  indisposition  both  from  his  letters  and  from  those  of 
other  relatives.  His  absence  and  danger  was  a  constant 
source  of  trial  to  me  all  the  time,  and  for  the  first  time  ill 
health  was  added — I  could  scarcely  bear  it.  In  answer  to 
my  often  expressed  wish  to  spend  my  time  in  camp  at  Bird's 
Point,  he  had  often  said  that  had  he  not  been  in  command 
he  would  have  had  me  there  as  often  as  he  could,  but  at 
times  the  efficiency  of  the  service  was  hindered  by  the  pres 
ence  of  the  families  of  the  officers,  and  he  could  not  forbid 
their  presence  if  he  had  his  own  wife  in  camp.  So  only  on 
rare  and  exceptional  occasions  when  he  was  detailed  for 

[182] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

court  martial  or  something  like  that,  I  was  telegraphed  for 
and  met  him  and  made  a  trip  with  him  to  Springfield  or  St. 
Louis. 

"My  regard  for  him  and  pride  in  him  inspired  me  to  be 
a  brave  soldier's  wife  and  endure  cheerfully.  I  had  never 
gone  to  camp  except  when  telegraphed  for.  But  when  these 
continued  sick  days  came,  and  quick  communication  was  im 
possible  and  the  tone  of  my  husband's  letters  showed  weari 
ness  and  depression,  the  feeling  took  possession  of  me  that 
if  I  could  go  to  him  and  spend  a  few  hours  with  him  that  it 
would  make  a  break  in  his  mind-burden,  and  rest  and  re 
lieve  him.  I  knew  he  would  not  think  it  consistent  with  his 
duty  to  send  for  me,  though  I  found  it  mine  to  go  to  him. 
Though  he  would  be  glad  to  see  me  he  would  blame  me  and 
think  me  babyish  and  probably  send  me  home  at  once. 

"I  wrote  him  I  would  come  with  Mr.  R.  E.  Goodell  (then 
furnishing  supplies  to  the  army),  if  I  could.  I  wrote  Mr. 
Goodell  at  Joliet  that  I  wanted  to  go  to  the  front  with  him, 
and  received  a  telegram  that  starting  that  night  I  could  join 
Elder  Button,  Chaplain  of  the  Twentieth  at  Bloomington, 
who  was  going  right  to  his  regiment,  then  in  my  husband's 
brigade.  My  brother  John,  the  only  brother  not  in  the 
army,  who  was  a  telegrapher,  urged  me  not  to  go,  said  I 
was  'crazy' — 'I  never  would  get  to  the  front,  all  civilians 
were  turned  back,  etc.'  I  argued  that  Mr.  Goodell  occu 
pied  such  a  position  as  contractor,  that  he  would  know  what 
could  probably  be  done,  and  would  not  have  despatched  to 
me  if  he  did  not  think  I  could  go.  Nearly  all  my  friends 
talked  in  the  same  way. 

"Judge  Caton,  my  near  neighbor,  telegraphed  to  Cairo 
for  me  to  see  if  I  could  pass.  The  answer  came,  'none  but 
soldiers  were  permitted  to  go  up  the  Tennessee  river !'  But 
I  determined  to  go  anyway.  General  Strong,  then  in  com 
mand  at  Cairo,  was  a  personal  friend  of  Judge  Caton  and 
the  Judge  gave  me  a  letter  of  introduction  to  him. 

"I  had  to  take  a  night  train  to  La  Salle.  When  it  was 
time  to  go  to  the  depot,  about  midnight,  there  was  a  most 
fearful  wind  and  rainstorm  raging,  so  bad  that  the  half- 
grown  Irish  boy  said  he  could  not  drive ;  so  I  sent  off  half  a 
mile  to  the  foreman  of  our  farm,  who  came  and  drove 

[183] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

while  the  boy  walked  ahead  of  the  horse  with  a  lantern 
down  the  hill  to  the  depot. 

"We  were  in  an  open  buggy,  but  I  was  so  covered  with 
wraps  that  I  did  not  get  wet.  When  I  arrived  at  the  depot 
I  felt  triumphant,  and  thought  if  I  could  surmount  such  a 
storm,  I  certainly  can  any  other  difficulties  that  may  ob 
struct  my  path.  At  La  Salle  I  had  to  wait  some  hours. 
Mr.  Hardy,  the  hotel-keeper,  I  knew  well,  told  me  it  was 
utterly  useless  for  me  to  go.  I  could  not  get  beyond  Cairo, 
that  every  train  brought  back  disappointed  people  who  could 
go  no  further  than  Cairo.  Regardless  of  these  discouraging 
remarks,  my  faith  in  Mr.  Goodell's  judgment  was  unshaken, 
besides  I  intended  if  I  could  not  pass  the  lines  at  once  to 
remain  at  Cairo  until  there  was  an  opportunity. 

"At  Bloomington  Elder  Button  came  to  me  on  the  train 
and  introduced  himself.  He  had  been  home  on  sick  leave 
after  the  exposure  and  exhaustion  at  Donelson.  When  I 
asked  him  questions  about  Mr.  Goodell,  he  informed  me  that 
he  was  not  at  home,  nor  had  been  for  a  week,  and  that  his 
wife  had  sent  the  telegram  to  me  and  signed  it  R.  E. 
Goodell  because  he  had  a  telegraph  frank.  Now  indeed,  I 
was  discouraged.  I  would  not  have  left  home  if  I  had 
known  that  Mr.  Goodell  had  not  advised  it.  But  I  could 
not  turn  back. 

"At  Cairo  Elder  Button  took  a  note  from  me  with  Judge 
Caton's  note  to  General  Strong's  headquarters  and  came 
back  in  ten  minutes  with  a  permit  to  go  up  the  river  in  a 
transport  that  was  to  start  up  next  day  loaded  with  Iowa 
regiments." 

Judge  Caton's  letter  to  General  Strong. 

"OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS,  March  31,  1862. 
"BRIGADIER-GENERAL  STRONG. 
"DEAR  SIR: 

"Allow  me  to  commend  to  your  kindest  consideration 
Mrs.  Wallace,  the  wife  of  Brigadier-General  W.  H.  L.  Wal 
lace,  who  is  my  near  neighbor  and  particular  friend.  Mrs. 
Wallace. is  on  her  way  to  join  the  General  on  the  upper 
Tennessee.  By  affording  to  Mrs.  Wallace  every  facility  in 

[184] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

your  power  you  will  lay  General  Wallace  and  myself  under 
very  great  obligations. 

"With  great  respect,  I  am  yours  truly, 

"J.  D.  CATON." 
To  continue  Mrs.  Wallace's  letter : 

"It  seems  General  Strong  himself  was  in  St.  Louis  and 
his  Adjutant  said,  'I  know  General  Strong  would  want  to 
do  anything  he  could  that  was  requested  by  Judge  Caton.' 
He  thought  a  moment,  then  went  to  his  desk  and  wrote  the 
permit.  As  he  handed  it  across  the  desk  to  Elder  Button, 
he  said:  'There  is  the  permit,  but  I  have  gone  beyond  my 
orders.' 

"My  idea  is  that  the  Adjutant  knew  that  General  Strong's 
wish  would  agree  with  the  act  and  would  not  be  severe  to 
blame  him ;  when  if  the  General  himself  had  been  there  his 
strict  orders  and  responsible  position  would  have  prevented 
him  from  giving  the  pass. 

"At  different  points  along  the  river  officers  came  on 
board,  and  as  they  approached  me  evidently  intended  taking 
me  ashore,  but  my  permit  was  law  to  them  and  I  was  not 
molested.  There  was  a  kind  woman  nurse  that  belonged 
to  Colonel  Ross'  regiment  on  board  with  sanitary  supplies. 
There  were  also  two  regiments  of  Iowa  volunteers.  Belknap 
was  the  Adjutant  of  one  of  the  regiments.  He  was  kind, 
patriotic  and  brave,  and  I  admired  him,  and  was  astonished 
and  sorry  when  disgrace  came  to  him  in  later  years.  I  do 
not  believe  he  was  to  blame. 

"These  regiments  had  drilled  some  at  Keokuk,  but  only 
received  their  muskets  as  they  passed  the  St.  Louis  arsenal 
and  had  never  even  loaded  them  until  they  were  marched 
right  from  that  steamboat  into  the  fire  of  the  enemy  at 
Shiloh;  of  course,  panic  was  the  result.  Who  blundered  I 
do  not  know. 

"As  we  steamed  along  I  was  perfectly  jubilant.  I  had 
indeed  surmounted  all  difficulties  and  would  soon  see  my 
husband ;  yet  I  had  a  faint  fear  all  the  while  that  by  some 
chance  his  orders  might  send  him  to  Illinois  and  he  would 
pass  us  and  so  I  might  miss  him.  I  could  not  help  feeling 
that  I  was  going  through  a  similar  experience  to  Longfel- 

[185] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

low's  'Evangeline,'  my  surroundings  were  so  strange  and 
unusual.  All  the  officers  and  soldiers  were  kind,  courteous 
and  attentive  to  me.  At  different  times  the  boat  turned  into 
the  shore  and  the  soldiers  landed  and  cooked  up  their  ra 
tions.  Many  of  them  brought  me  bunches  of  wild  spring 
flowers,  so  that  the  ladies'  cabin  was  glorious  with  them. 

"At  midnight  of  April  fifth,  we  touched  at  Savannah, 
where  General  Grant  had  his  headquarters,  ten  miles  before 
we  reached  Pittsburg  Landing.  My  last  letter  from  my 
husband  had  been  written  from  Savannah,  though  I  had 
heard  from  an  officer  that  he  had  returned  to  Pittsburg 
Landing.  I  asked  the  officers  who  went  ashore  to  report  to 
inquire  whether  my  husband  was  now  at  Savannah.  Gen 
eral  Grant  himself  was  up,  and  sent  me  word  that  my  hus 
band  was  with  C.  F.  Smith's  division  and  in  command  of 
it  at  Pittsburg  Landing. 

"Some  of  General  Grant's  staff  were  on  board  and  I 
was  careful  to  let  them  know  that  I  had  come  without  my 
husband's  knowledge,  fearing  he  might  be  blamed  for  my 
presence  there. 

"We  arrived  before  daylight  at  Pittsburg  Landing.  Cap 
tain  Coates  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois  was  on  board,  return 
ing  after  a  leave  of  absence.  He  proposed  to  walk  with  me 
to  my  husband's  headquarters.  We  heard  a  great  deal  of 
firing,  but  it  was  accounted  for  as  the  return  of  the  night 
pickets  and  the  discharge  of  their  guns.  I  had  put  on  my 
hat  and  gloves  when  Captain  Coates  suggested  that  perhaps 
it  would  be  better  for  him  to  first  find  out  how  far  it  was, 
and  perhaps  I  had  better  ride,  if  very  far. 

"So  I  remained  on  the  boat.  Before  half  an  hour  Cap 
tain  Coates  came  back  wounded  in  two  places,  one  painful 
wound  in  the  hand,  but  neither  of  them  dangerous.  I  also 
learned  that  a  big  battle  was  in  progress  and  that  my  hus 
band  had  moved  with  his  command  to  the  front,  so  it  was 
not  possible  for  me  to  reach  him.  The  only  thing  then  for 
me  to  do  was  to  wait  where  I  was,  so  that  any  of  the  dear 
ones  on  that  field  could,  if  they  wished,  communicate  with 
me. 

"That  long  day  on  that  steamboat,  its  scenes  and  sensa 
tions  are  beyond  any  description.  The  wounded  were 

[186] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

brought  by  hundreds  onto  the  boat.  Some  could  sit  and 
stand  about  and  talk,  others  helpless  and  pallid ;  but  all  with 
out  exception  heroic  in  their  fortitude.  I  did  not  hear 
a  groan  or  murmur  except  those  unconscious  under  the  in 
fluence  of  chloroform  or  in  sleep.  I  passed  from  place  to 
place  holding  water  and  bandages  for  the  surgeons  until  it 
became  so  crowded  that  I  felt  I  was  in  the  way  and  I  went 
on  the  upper  deck  and  sat  there  instead  of  in  the  cabin. 

"The  steamer  was  used  most  of  the  day  to  transport  some 
of  Buell's  men  across  the  river.  Over  and  back,  over  and 
back.  The  cabin  floor  was  full  of  wounded,  inside  and  out, 
by  the  guards  laid  close  and  in  rows  like  bricks  in  a  brick 
yard.  The  lower  deck  was  used  to  transport  the  troops. 
Buell's  men  had  to  dig  a  road  down  to  the  river's  edge  to 
move  cannon  down  to  the  boats,  and  the  rebels  threw  shell 
and  shot  to  stop  them,  and  also  shelled  the  transports.  As 
I  sat  there  I  saw  these  shells  strike  the  sides  of  other  steam 
boats  and  cut  off  limbs  of  trees  near  where  the  road  was 
made,  and  pass  buzzing  across  our  deck.  I  felt  dazed  and 
horrified,  yet  enthused  by  some  means,  so  I  was  not  afraid, 
but  felt  like  a  soldier.  I  knew  the  danger,  but  felt  lifted 
above  fear  of  it. 

"The  panic-stricken  raw  troops  seemed  perfectly  insane. 
The  steamer  had  to  keep  a  slight  distance  from  shore  or  it 
would  have  been  swamped  by  the  rush  of  soldiers.  At  one 
time  an  officer  got  aboard  and  ordered  the  pilot  to  touch 
shore  and  take  his  men  on  board.  He  threatened  the  pilot 
with  his  pistol.  I  sat  near  by,  the  only  person  on  deck  ex 
cept  the  pilot  and  this  officer.  The  pilot  pretended  to  obey 
him,  but  really  did  not,  thus  giving  the  frenzied  man  time 
enough  to  come  to  his  senses.  As  the  shot  and  shell  whizzed 
about  I  felt  it  would  be  safer  below,  but  the  feeling  that 
exhibition  of  fear  on  my  part  would  make  it  a  little  harder 
for  that  pilot  to  stand  at  his  post  kept  me  from  going 
down." 

On  that  fatal  field  of  Shiloh  Mrs.  Wallace  had  besides 
her  husband,  her  father  and  two  of  her  own  brothers,  and 
two  of  her  husband's  brothers,  besides  a  number  of  more 
distant  relatives.  They  all  came  safely  through  except  her 
husband. 

[187] 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 
BATTLE  OF  SHILOH. 

THERE  was  no  battle  of  the  Civil  War  over  which 
there  has  been  so  much  written,  with  more  discus 
sion,  and  perhaps  more  criticism,  than  the  terrific 
battle  of  Shiloh  at  Pittsburg  Landing,  Tennessee,  beginning 
early  in  the  morning  of  April  sixth,  lasting  the  entire  day 
and  the  greater  part  of  the  following  day. 

Major-General  Halleck  was  in  command  of  the  Western 
armies,  which  at  this  time  were  composed  of  the  army  of 
the  Ohio  and  the  army  of  the  Tennessee.  For  a  short  time 
Major-General  C.  F.  Smith  was  the  commander  of  the  army 
of  the  Tennessee,  but,  owing  to  an  accident  to  his  knee,  had 
to  relinquish  the  command.  On  March  seventh  General  U. 
S.  Grant  was  reinstated  in  command  of  this  army  with 
headquarters  at  Savannah.  General  Halleck's  orders  were 
to  destroy  the  railroad  connection  at  Corinth,  twenty  miles 
away,  where  the  Confederate  army  was  in  force,  but  to  do 
nothing  towards  bringing  on  an  engagement  until  the  army 
of  the  Ohio  should  arrive  under  General  Buell  from  Nash 
ville. 

The  army  of  the  Tennessee  commanded  by  Major-Gen 
eral  U.  S.  Grant  was  on  the  fifth  of  April  composed  of  six 
divisions : 

The  First  commanded  by  Major-General  John  A.  Mc- 
Clernand. 

The  Second  by  Brigadier-General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 

The  Third  by  Major-General  Lew  Wallace. 

The  Fourth  by  Brigadier-General  S.  A.  Hurlbut. 

The  Fifth  by  Brigadier-General  W.  T.  Sherman. 

The  Sixth  by  Brigadier-General  B.  M.  Prentiss. 

Of  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry,  officers  and  men  con 
centrated  here  at  Pittsburg  Landing  and  Crump's  Landing 
there  were  over  forty-seven  thousand.  The  Confederates 
numbered  about  forty-four  thousand  men. 

Pittsburg  Landing  at  the  time  of  the  battle  was  merely  a 

[188] 


AUTOGRAPH    LETTER    OF    GENERAL    LEW    WALLACE    TO    GENERAL  W.   H. 
L.    WALLACE  THE    DAY    BEFORE    THE    BATTLE    OF    SHILOH 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

landing  for  steamboats.  From  here  a  good  road  ran  south 
westerly  to  Corinth.  The  bluff  rising  from  the  river  is 
about  eighty  feet;  the  ground  on  the  bluff,  and  where  the 
battle  was  fought,  along  the  Corinth  road,  is  about  the  same 
level,  but  is  cut  up  on  either  side  by  deep  ravines  and  water 
courses  leading  into  Snake  and  Owl  Creeks  on  the  north, 
and  Lick  Creek  on  the  south.  Lick  Creek  empties  into  the 
Tennessee  river  about  two  miles  above  Pittsburg  Landing, 
and  Snake  Creek  about  one  mile  below.  These  streams, 
therefore,  formed  an  excellent  protection  against  an  attack 
upon  either  flank  of  an  army  encamped  between  them.  The 
land  near  them  was  low  and  marshy  and  at  this  time  of  the 
year  the  creeks  could  not  be  crossed  except  by  bridges.  "In 
1862  this  plateau  was  covered  with  forest  with  thick  under 
growth  and  an  occasional  clearing  of  a  few  acres  surround 
ing  a  farm  house."  * 

General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  division  was  near  the  Land 
ing;  that  of  General  Lew  Wallace  was  beyond  Snake 
Creek  at  Crump's  Landing,  six  miles  north  of  Pittsburg 
Landing.  From  Adamsville  General  Lew  Wallace  wrote 
the  following  letter  to  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  dated 
the  day  before  the  battle. 

A  copy  of  this  letter  of  General  Lew  Wallace  was  sent 
to  General  Grant  when  writing  his  Memoirs,  in  reference 
to  which  he  makes  the  following  note  in  his  book : 

"Since  writing  this  chapter  I  have  received  from  Mrs. 
W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  widow  of  the  gallant  General  who  was 
killed  in  the  first  day's  fight  on  the  field  of  Shiloh,  a  letter 
from  General  Lew  Wallace  to  him,  dated  the  morning  of 
the  fifth.  At  the  date  of  this  letter  it  was  well  known  that 
the  Confederates  had  troops  out  along  the  Mobile  and  Ohio 
railroad  west  of  Crump's  Landing  and  Pittsburg  Landing, 
and  were  also  collecting  near  Shiloh.  This  letter  shows  that 
at  that  time  General  Lew  Wallace  was  making  preparations 
for  the  emergency  that  might  happen  for  the  passing  of  re 
inforcements  between  Shiloh  and  his  position,  extending 
from  Crump's  Landing  westward,  and  he  sends  it  over  the 
road  running  from  Adamsville  to  the  Pittsburg  Landing  and 

*  Major  D.  W.  Reed,  historian  of  Battle  of  Shiloh  compiled  from 
official  records. 

[189] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Purdy  road.  These  two  roads  intersect  nearly  a  mile  west 
of  the  crossing  of  the  latter  over  Owl  Creek,  where  pur 
right  rested.  In  this  letter  General  Lew  Wallace  advises 
General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  that  he  will  send  'to-morrow' 
(and  his  letter  also  says  'April  5th,'  which  is  the  same  day 
the  letter  was  dated  and  which,  therefore,  must  have  been 
written  on  the  4th)  some  cavalry  to  report  to  him  at  his 
headquarters,  and  suggesting  the  propriety  of  General  W. 
H.  L.  Wallace's  sending  a  company  back  with  them  for  the 
purpose  of  having  the  cavalry  at  the  two  landings  familiar 
ize  themselves  with  the  road,  so  that  they  could  'act  prompt 
ly  in  case  of  emergency  as  guides  to  and  from  the  different 
camps.' 

"This  modifies  very  materially  what  I  have  said,  and 
what  has  been  said  by  others,  of  the  conduct  of  General 
Lew  Wallace  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  It  shows  that  he 
naturally,  with  no  more  experience  than  he  had  at  the  time 
in  the  profession  of  arms,  would  take  the  particular  road 
that  he  did  start  upon  in  the  absence  of  orders  to  move  by 
a  different  road.  The  mistake  he  made,  and  which  prob- 
aly  caused  his  apparent  dilatoriness,  was  that  of  advancing 
some  distance  after  he  found  that  the  firing,  which  would 
be  at  first  directly  to  his  front  and  then  off  to  the  left,  had 
fallen  back  until  it  had  got  very  much  in  rear  of  the  position 
of  his  advance.  This  falling  back  had  taken  place  before  I 
sent  General  Wallace  orders  to  move  up  to  Pittsburg  Land 
ing,  and,  naturally,  my  order  was  to  follow  the  road  nearest 
the  river.  But  my  order  was  verbal,  and  to  a  staff  officer 
who  was  to  deliver  it  to  General  Wallace,  so  that  I  am  not 
competent  to  say  just  what  order  the  General  actually  re 
ceived. 

"General  Wallace's  division  was  stationed,  the  First  bri 
gade  at  .Crump's  Landing,  the  Second  out  two  miles,  and 
the  Third  two  and  a  half  miles  out.  Hearing  the  sounds  of 
battle  General  Wallace  early  ordered  his  First  and  Third 
brigades  to  concentrate  on  the  Second.  If  the  position  of 
our  front  had  not  changed  the  road  which  Wallace  took 
would  have  been  somewhat  shorter  to  our  right  than  the 
river  road.  "U.  S.  GRANT. 

"Mount  MacGregor,  New  York,  June  21,  1885." 
[190] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

On  the  afternoon  before  the  battle  Captain  I.  P.  Rumsey, 
aide  on  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  staff,  with  his  brother, 
Lieutenant  John  W.  Rumsey,  rode  out  to  reconnoitre,  as  he 
says:  "We  rode  to  the  front  of  General  Prentiss'  division 
and  were  cautioned  by  the  sentry  not  to  ride  farther  to  the 
front,  as  he  was  the  outer  guard.  Calling  his  attention  to  the 
cavalry  we  could  see  in  the  woods  beyond,  he  stated,  'They 
are  not  ours.'  Farther  along  the  line  to  the  right,  in  look 
ing  across  an  open  field  where  the  day  before  the  fresh  ar 
rivals  of  troops  were  being  brigaded  and  drilled,  we  saw  a 
small  squad  of  cavalry  apparently  taking  in  the  situation. 
We  then  rode  to  Sherman's  division  and  called  on  my  bat 
tery,  'Taylor's,'  which  was  camped  near  the  Shiloh  church, 
and  told  the  boys  what  we  had  seen  and  that  they  might 
have  a  chance  to  use  their  guns  without  even  hitching  up. 

"Starting  back  we  met  Colonel  T.  Lyle  Dickey  of  the 
Fourth  cavalry  and  told  him  what  we  had  seen.  He  asked 
me  to  tell  General  Sherman ;  therefore,  we  rode  to  the  Gen 
eral's  tent,  dismounted  and  I  told  him  what  we  had  seen. 
'Yes,'  he  replied,  'they  have  been  up  on  the  right  three  times 
and  fired  on  McDowell,  but  I  have  positive  orders  from 
Grant  to  do  nothing  that  will  have  a  tendency  to  bring  on 
a  general  engagement  until  Buell  arrives.'  And  in  his  quick, 
nervous  manner  he  continued,  'Have  you  heard  from  Buell  ?' 
I  answered  in  the  negative,  and  he  went  on  to  say,  'Strange, 
strange,  he  ought  to  have  been  here  ten  days  ago ;  ten  days 
ago.'  Then  taking  his  map  and  placing  it  on  the  ground,  he 
pointed  out  the  route  of  General  Buell's  army,  the  streams 
to  cross,  etc.,  repeating  'ten  days  ago.'  We  then  rode  back 
to  our  camp.  I  reported  to  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  who, 
while  surprised,  said  but  little,  hardly  making  any  reply." 

The  advance  of  Buell's  army  began  to  arrive  on  the  even 
ing  of  the  fifth  and  in  another  day's  time  the  Union  forces 
would  have  been  consolidated.  The  Confederate  leaders 
were  cognizant  of  the  state  of  affairs  and  were  anxious  to 
bring  on  an  engagement  before  the  Union  forces  should  be 
united.  General  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  Commander- 
in-Chief  of  the  Southern  forces,  with  the  able  Corps  Com 
manders  Beauregard,  Bragg,  Polk,  Pillow,  Hardee  and  Crit- 

[191] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

tenden.  They  succeeded  in  their  wish  to  engage  Grant's 
army  before  reinforcements  should  make  it  stronger,  and 
did  so  with  such  tremendous  force  and  suddenness  as  to 
carry  all  before  them  for  a  time,  and  it  looked  as  if  they 
might  carry  out  their  boast  of  watering  their  horses  in  the 
Tennessee  river  after  the  total  annihilation  of  Grant's  army. 

Prentiss'  line  was  the  first  attacked  and  soon  after,  part 
of  Sherman's  division.  When  they  found  they  were  being 
attacked  in  force  they  asked  for  reinforcements  from  di 
visions  in  the  rear.  McClernand  sent  part  of  his  division 
forward,  as  did  also  Hurlbut  and  W.  H.  L.  Wallace.  Gener 
al  Grant  sent  an  order  to  General  Lew  Wallace  at  Crump's 
Landing,  beyond  Snake  Creek,  to  hasten,  but  he  did  not  ar 
rive  until  seven  in  the  evening,  from  misunderstanding  of 
orders. 

General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  division  was  composed  of 
three  brigades  of  infantry,  four  batteries  of  artillery  and 
four  companies  of  cavalry.  His  staff  officers  were  Assistant 
Adjutant-General,  Captain  William  McMichael;  his  aides 
were  Captain  T.  J.  Newham,  Lieutenant  I.  P.  Rumsey,  of 
Taylor's  battery,  and  Lieutenant  G.  I.  Davis  and  Cyrus  E. 
Dickey  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois  infantry. 

Captain  I.  P.  Rumsey  writes: 

"The  morning  of  April  sixth  was  quiet  with  us  back 
near  the  landing  until  as  we  sat  down  to  our  mess-table  we 
heard  a  sudden  roar  of  musketry  in  the  front  and  the  next 
moment  the  boom  of  cannon.  All  horses  were  quickly  sad 
dled,  division  ordered  under  arms,  and  soon  after  we  were 
moving  in  column  toward  the  front,  with  General  Wallace 
at  the  head  of  the  division,  marching  toward  the  Shiloh 
Church  on  the  Corinth  road,  to  the  Duncan  Field,  where 
we  found  a  gap  between  General  Prentiss'  right  and  General 
McClernand's  left,*  where  General  Wallace  placed  General 
Sweeney,  commanding  Third  brigade,  on  the  right  cov 
ering  the  Shiloh  road  and  Duncan  Field,  and  General  Tut- 
tle's  First  brigade  on  the  left,  joining  General  Prentiss' 
right.  Our  Second  brigade,  commanded  by  General  Mc- 
Arthur,  and  Battery  A,  Captain  Wood  commanding,  were 

*To  the  left  of  Prentiss  was  Hurlbut's  division,  to  right  of  W.  H.  L. 
Wallace's  division  came  McClernand  and  to  his  right  Sherman's  division. 

[192] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

diverted  by  General  Grant  and  taken  to  the  left  to  the  sup 
port  of  General  Dave  Stewart,  or  to  fill  a  gap  between  Gen 
erals  Hurlbut  and  Stewart. 

"In  some  unaccountable  way  General  Sweeney's  brigade 
was  broken  to  pieces.  As  I  sat  by  General  Wallace  in  rear 
of  General  Tuttle's  brigade,  who  were  heavily  engaged,  Gen 
eral  Sweeney  rode  up  and  reported  to  General  Wallace, 
saying,  "I  have  broken  the  center ;  if  I  can  be  supported,  I 
can  hold  it.'  Without  orders,  I  rode  to  the  right  and  found 
great  disorder  in  Sweeney's  brigade,  then  rode  rapidly  to 
Wallace  and  reported  the  same,  at  which  time  Wallace  was 
watching  with  great  interest  heavy  fighting  on  our  left  by 
Tuttle  in  what  is  called  The  Hornet's  Nest.'  General  Wal 
lace  could  not  believe  or  understand  my  report,  for  he  had 
tgreat  confidence  in  General  Sweeney  and  his  brigade.  What 
had  become  of  Sweeney  I  never  knew  until  after  the  battle 
of  the  first  day  I  found  him  without  a  command  with  Gen 
eral  Sherman  on  the  extreme  right,  he  having  passed  clear 
across  General  McClernand's  front,  whose  division  lay  be 
tween  Wallace  and  Sherman,  and  one  of  Sweeney's  regi 
ments  moving  to  the  rear  on  the  Corinth  road  without  or 
ders  or  commander. 

"In  this  ride  and  investigation  I  found  General  McCler- 
nand  had  withdrawn  his  left  half  a  mile  to  the  rear  of  Wal 
lace's  right,  leaving  his  right  exposed.  I  plead  with  Mc- 
Clernand  to  throw  his  left  forward,  but  he  refused.  I  rode 
rapidly  to  Wallace,  but  it  was  too  late.  As  I  reached  him 
General  Hurlbut,  who  was  on  the  left  of  General  Prentiss 
and  at  right  angles  with  Wallace,  broke  in  a  rout.  This  left 
Prentiss  and  Wallace  flanked  both  on  right  and  left  and  it 
was  from  the  enemy  on  our  right  coming  into  the  gap  made 
by  Sweeney  and  McClernand,  from  which  our  noble,  brave, 
cool  General  received  his  fatal  bullet  as  he  was  falling  back 
in  command  of  his  troops. 

"General  Prentiss,  who  was  captured  with  a  portion  of 
his  division,  told  me  after  he  was  exchanged,  that  General 
Wallace  advised  that  he,  Prentiss,  wheel  his  division  to  the 
left  and  he,  Wallace,  would  about  face  his  command  and 
then  moved  onto  the  enemy's  flank  who  were  then  crowding 
General  Hurlbut  back  to  our  rear,  which  shows  the  cool  de- 

[193] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

liberation  and  generalship  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  action.  It 
was  while  executing  this  move  that  General  Wallace  re 
ceived  his  death  blow  from  Rebel  General  Folk's  troops, 
who  were  in  General  McClernand's  front." 

By  2:30  o'clock  McClernand's  division  had  fallen  back 
and  most  of  Sherman's  division.  Parts  of  the  division  of 
Hurlbut,  with  those  of  Prentiss  and  Wallace,  as  Eddy  says, 
"Stood  between  the  enemy  and  destruction — stood  like  ocean 
beat  rocks."  William  Preston  Johnston,  in  his  life  of  Al 
bert  Sidney  Johnston  and  the  Shiloh  Campaign  in  the  Cen 
tury  Magazine  of  February,  1885,  says  of  this  part  of  the 
battle,  from  his  Southern  standpoint : 

"On  the  Federal  left-center  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  was 
massed  with  Prentiss'  fragments  in  a  position  so  impregna 
ble  and  thronged  with  such  fierce  defenders  that  it  won 
from  the  Confederates  the  memorable  title  of  the  'Hornet's 
Nest.'  Here  behind  a  dense  thicket  on  the  crest  of  the  hill 
was  posted  a  strong  force  of  as  hardy  troops  as  ever  fought, 
almost  perfectly  protected  by  the  conformation  of  the 
ground,  and  by  logs  and  other  rude  and  hastily  prepared 
defenses.  To  assail  it  an  open  field  had  to  be  passed,  en 
filaded  by  the  fire  of  its  batteries.  No  figure  of  speech 
would  be  too  strong  to  express  the  deadly  peril  of  assault 
upon  this  natural  fortress,  whose  inaccessible  barriers  blazed 
for  six  hours  with  sheets  of  flame  and  whose  infernal  gates 
poured  forth  a  murderous  storm  of  shot  and  shell  and 
musketry  fire  which  no  living  thing  could  quell  or  even 
withstand.  Brigade  after  brigade  was  led  against  it.  Hind- 
man's  brigades,  which  earlier  swept  everything  before  them, 
were  reduced  to  fragments  and  paralyzed  for  the  remainder 
of  the  day.  A.  P.  Stewart's  regiments  made  fruitless  as 
saults.  Then  Bragg  ordered  up  Gibson's  brigade.  Gibson, 
himself  a  knightly  soldier,  was  aided  by  Colonels,  three  of 
whom  afterwards  became  Generals.  The  brigade  made  a 
gallant  charge,  but  like  the  others,  recoiled  from  the  fire  it 
encountered.  Under  a  cross  fire  of  artillery  and  musketry 
it  at  last  fell  back  with  heavy  loss.  Gibson  asked  for  artil 
lery  to  be  sent  to  him;  but  it  was  not  at  hand  and  Bragg 
sent  word  to  charge  again.  The  Colonels  thought  it  hope- 

[194] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

less;  but  Gibson  led  them  again  to  the  attack,  and  again 
they  suffered  a  bloody  repulse.  Four  times  the  assault 
proved  unavailing. 

"About  half-past  three  o'clock  the  struggle  which  had 
been  going  on  for  five  hours  with  fitful  violence  was  re 
newed  with  the  utmost  fury.  Folk's  and  Bragg's  Corps, 
intermingled,  were  engaged  in  a  death  grapple  with  the 
sturdy  commands  of  Wallace  and  Prentiss.  *  *  *  * 
General  Ruggles  judiciously  collected  all  the  artillery  he 
could  find,  some  eleven  batteries,  which  he  massed  against 
the  position.  The  opening  of  so  heavy  a  fire  and  the  simul 
taneous  advance  of  the  whole  Confederate  line  resulted  first 
in  confusion,  then  in  the  death  of  Wallace  and  the  surren 
der  of  Prentiss  at  about  half-past  five  o'clock.  Each  Con 
federate  commander  of  division,  brigade  and  regiment,  at 
his  command  pounced  upon  the  prey,  believed  it  entitled  to 
the  credit  of  the  capture.  Breckenridge,  Ruggles,  Withers, 
Cheatham  and  other  divisions  which  helped  to  subdue  these 
stubborn  fighters  each  imagined  his  own  the  hardest  part  of 
the  work. 

"These  Federal  Generals  have  received  scant  justice  for 
their  stubborn  defense.  They  agreed  to  hold  their  position 
at  all  odds  and  did  so  until  Wallace  received  his  fatal 
wound  and  Prentiss  was  surrounded  and  captured  with 
nearly  three  thousand  men.  This  delay  was  the  salvation 
of  Grant's  army." 

In  a  Philadelphia  paper  of  June  13th,  1885,  a  member  of 
the  Mobile  bar  writing  an  account  of  this  battle  as  a  partici 
pant  on  the  Confederate  side,  says: 

"Towards  four  o'clock  the  troops  of  Bragg  and  Polk  en 
gaged  in  a  death  struggle  with  Prentiss  and  Wallace.  These 
Federal  Generals  were  delivering  blow  for  blow.  They  felt 
keenly  their  responsibility.  On  them  depended  the  safety 
of  General  Grant  and  the  rest  of  the  army.  Wallace  fell 
mortally  wounded,  the  hero  of  this  battle  on  the  Federal 
side.  The  table  of  losses  at  Shiloh  will  show  this.  Many 
Northern  writers  have  sought  to  make  Sherman  the  hero 
of  this  fight.  It  is  the  old  story  of  the  living  dog  and  the 
dead  lion." 

[195] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Eddy  says:  "General  Hurlbut's  division  became  ex 
hausted  and  fell  back,  leaving  Wallace  alone.  In  conse 
quence  of  losing  his  support  the  division  of  General  W.  H. 
L.  Wallace  thus  in  isolated  advance  was  compelled  to  fall 
back,  the  last  to  leave  the  field.  Just  at  this  moment  the 
brave  commander  was  mortally  wounded." 

As  Charles  Carleton  Coffin  says:  "It  was  like  taking 
away  the  strength  of  his  division.  The  men  lost  heart  in  a 
moment.  The  power  which  had  inspired  them  was  gone. 
General  Wallace  was  a  very  brave  man.  He  was  cool,  had 
great  presence  of  mind  and  possessed  the  rare  qualification 
of  making  his  soldiers  feel  his  presence.  He  could  bring 
order  out  of  confusion  and  by  a  word,  a  look,  or  an  act, 
inspire  his  men.  *  *  *  *  He  could  hold  his  ground, 
but  could  not  push  the  superior  force.  His  coolness,  en 
durance,  bravery,  stubbornness,  his  quick  perception  of  all 
that  was  taking  place,  his  power  over  his  men,  to  make  each 
man  a  hero,  did  much  towards  saving  the  army  on  that  dis 
astrous  day." 

Night  came  on  and  the  battle  ceased.  The  Confederate 
hosts  spending  it  in  the  deserted  camps  of  their  Northern 
foes.  The  Union  army  was  huddled  together  near  the  Land 
ing  in  the  camp  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 

When  General  Wallace  received  his  death  wound  his 
brother-in-law,  Cyrus  Dickey,  was  riding  by  his  side,  and 
when  he  fell  supposed  him  killed.  He,  with  the  assistance 
of  three  orderlies,  endeavored  to  carry  him  from  the  field, 
but  were  only  able  to  get  a  short  distance  when  the  firing 
became  so  heavy  on  all  sides  they  were  compelled  to  leave 
the  General's  body.  They  laid  him  near  some  ammunition 
boxes,  so  he  would  not  be  trampled  on  by  the  flying  horses 
and  sadly  left  him  and  in  five  minutes  the  enemy  was  be 
tween  them. 

The  battle  was  renewed  the  next  day,  but  it  was  an  un 
even  contest.  Generals  Buell  and  Lew  Wallace  had  arrived 
with  twenty  thousand  fresh  troops.  The  Southerners  were 
exhausted  and  early  in  the  afternoon  began  to  retire  from 
the  field  and  sought  their  old  camping  ground  at  Corinth, 
leaving  slaughter  and  carnage  behind  them,  and  the  great 
battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing  was  at  an  end. 

[196] 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

DEATH  AND  BURIAL  OF  GENERAL  WALLACE.     PATHETIC 
LETTER  OF  MRS.  WALLACE. 

THE  tide  of  battle  turned  on  the  sixth,  the  Confeder 
ates  were  driven  back,  and  the  Union  forces  recov 
ered  their  lost  ground  of  the  day  before.  About  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning  General  Wallace  was  found  still 
alive.  The  enemy  had  covered  him  with  a  blanket,  but  it 
had  rained  in  the  night  and  he  was  wet  and  cold.  He  was 
taken  down  to  the  Landing,  placed  on  a  transport  and  taken 
to  Savannah  to  the  headquarters  of  General  Grant  in  the 
Cherry  Mansion.  A  bed  was  put  in  the  library  for  him  and 
everything  was  done  that  skill  and  love  could  accomplish. 

In  the  same  room  General  Walter  Q.  Gresham,  as  Com 
mandant  of  the  Post  of  Savannah,  had  his  office  with  only 
a  curtain  division,  and  a  continual  stream  of  men  poured  in 
for  orders.  General  Gresham  did  everything  in  his  power 
to  maintain  quiet  so  as  not  to  disturb  the  sufferer. 

A  pathetic  letter  is  here  given,  written  by  Mrs.  Wallace 
some  time  after  the  battle,  to  her  aunt,  Mrs.  Templeton,  in 
which  she  describes  the  scenes  on  'the  boat,  the  recovery 
of  General  Wallace's  person  and  his  last  hours. 

"The  lower  deck  of  our  boat  and  that  of  others  was  used 
to  ferry  reinforcements  over.  Over  and  back,  over  and 
back  we  moved.  I  was  earnestly  watching  these  scenes, 
more  hopeful  than  most  around  me.  Elder  Button  came  up 
the  steps  with  a  worn,  depressed  look,  for  he  had  been  par 
tially  disabled  by  a  spent  ball  while  caring  for  the  wounded 
on  the  field.  I  felt  sorry  for  him,  knowing  he  had  looked 
on  so  many  loved  faces  that  day  for  the  last  time  and  that 
he  was  suffering  somewhat  from  his  own  injuries. 

"Looking  still  more  depressed,  he  came  near  me  and  a 
little  behind  me  and  said,  'This  is  an  awful  battle/  I  re 
plied,  'Yes,  but  these  fresh  troops  will  yet  win  the  day.' 
He  said,  'You  have  a  great  many  relations  on  this  field,  you 
cannot  hope  to  see  them  all  come  in  safe.'  I  answered, 

[197] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

'They  all  came  safely  through  Donelson,  and  to-day  my  hus 
band  is  in  command  of  a  division  and  is  comparatively  safe.' 
He  repeated  from  behind  my  shoulder,  'It  is  an  awful  bat 
tle.'  My  heart  was  touched  by  his  depressed  tones,  but  I 
thought  his  exhausting  day's  work  had  caused  them.  I 
turned  to  console  him  and  raising  my  eyes  to  the  face  of 
Hartley,  who  sat  in  front  of  me,  and  whose  countenance 
reflected  horror  as  he  gazed  full  in  the  face  of  Elder  But 
ton,  the  dread  truth  fell  on  my  heart  like  a  thunderbolt,  like 
the  cold  hand  of  steel. 

"Words  needed  not  to  tell  it;  'twas  before  me!  I  was 
stunned,  chilled,  almost  paralyzed.  Suffering  came  hours 
afterwards.  Very  soon  Brother  Cyrus  came  to  me,  self- 
charged  with  the  duty  of  telling  me  my  life  had  been  dark 
ened.  He  was  spared  the  task ;  his  work  was  already  done. 
He  gave  me  some  of  the  details.  Will's  division  was  falling 
back  under  orders  and  in  order,  he  leading  them.  They  had 
been  outflanked  by  the  enemy  and  at  the  time  were  under 
a  heavy  cross-fire  of  rebel  musketry.  Cyrus  had  just  di 
rected  Will's  attention  to  some  move  of  the  enemy  and  he 
raised  in  his  stirrups  apparently  to  see  better:  but  a  shot 
had  reached  him,  and  the  next  moment  he  fell  upon  his  face 
on  the  ground.  He  was  in  full  view  of  the  whole  division 
at  the  time,  and  from  that  time  confusion  reigned.  Their 
hopes  of  success  were  gone;  Cyrus  and  an  orderly,  (one 
who  loved  Will)  carried  him — whom  they  supposed  dead — 
over  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  They  had  passed  by  their  own 
lines  and  the  enemy  was  madly  upon  them.  To  remain  was 
to  court  death,  and  with  no  hope  of  finally  saving  their 
precious  charge,  they  laid  him  tenderly  beside  some  ammu 
nition  to  shield  him  from  the  tramping  feet,  and  tearfully 
left  him,  narrowly  escaping  with  their  own  lives. 

"My  husband  was  dead,  and  the  enemy  had  possession 
of  the  ground  where  he  lay.  'Twas  all  they  could  tell  me, 
and  it  was  enough. 

"In  a  few  minutes  Cyrus  left  me  to  go  to  Colonel  Ran 
som  of  the  Eleventh,  who  lay  wounded  on  the  steamer  near 
by,  and  he  was  by  mistake  carried  down  to  Savannah.  So 
I  was  quite  alone  that  fearful  night.  God  gave  me  strength 
and  I  spent  much  of  the  night  in  bathing  the  fevered  brows 
and  limbs  of  the  sufferers  around  me.  Action  was  a  relief 

[198] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

to  me,  and  it  was  slight  help  to  aid  men  who  were  suffering 
in  the  cause  for  which  Will  had  given  his  life. 

"On  Monday  morning  about  ten  o'clock,  as  I  was  sitting 
beside  a  wounded  man  just  brought  in,  Cyrus  came  to  me 
with  the  word  that  Will  had  been  brought  in  (after  the 
rebels  were  put  to  flight)  and  Oh !  joy,  he  was  breathing.  I 
flew  to  the  adjoining  boat,  where  he  was.  There  on  a  nar 
row  mattress  on  the  floor  in  the  middle  of  the  cabin  he  lay 
mortally  wounded.  His  face  was  flushed,  but  he  was 
breathing  naturally,  so  like  himself,  save  for  that  fearful 
wound  in  his  temple.  A  ball  had  passed  through  his  head 
in  a  manner  that  made  it  marvelous  that  he  could  still  live. 
But  the  greatest  joy  was  yet  to  come — Will  recognized  my 
voice  at  once  and  clasped  my  hand.  I  was  thrilled  and  ex 
claimed,  'He  knows  me;  he  knows  me!'  Others  said  that 
could  not  be,  but  Will's  lips  moved  and  with  difficulty  ut 
tered,  'Yes.'  Words  fail  to  tell  how  sweet  it  was.  I  be 
lieved  my  husband  dead;  and  he  is  alive  and  knows  me; 
Father,  I  thank  Thee !  I  could  appreciate  all  the  feelings  of 
Mary  and  Martha  at  the  tomb  of  Lazarus. 

"The  boat  was  now  taken  to  Savannah,  and  we  were 
permitted  to  place  him  in  a  large  room  at  Post  Headquar 
ters.  Brothers  Cyrus  Dickey,  Martin  Wallace,  Hitt  Wallace 
and  several  of  Will's  staff  were  there,  and  all  was  done  that 
ready  hands  and  loving  hearts  could  do.  He  seemed  so 
happy  and  satisfied  to  have  me  near  him,  but  lay  in  calm 
self-control  even  in  death,  conscious  that  his  moments  of 
life  were  continued  only  by  this  rest.  Hope  with  us  grew 
brighter  until  after  periodical  delirium,  caused  by  excessive 
inflammation,  passed  away  and  his  pulse  began  to  fail;  we 
knew  his  moments  with  us  were  few.  My  darling  knew  he 
was  going  and  pressed  my  hand  long  and  fondly  to  his 
heart.  Then  he  waved  me  away  and  said,  'We  meet  in 
Heaven.'  They  were  the  last  words  upon  those  loved  lips, 
and  he  faded  away  gently  and  peacefully  and  hopefully. 
*"My  father  snatched  a  moment  to  come  to  my  side 

*  Colonel  Dickey  sent  four  miles  Monday  night  to  ask  leave  to  go  to 
the  bedside  of  General  Wallace,  he  was  not  only  refused  but  ordered 
by  General  Sherman  to  report  to  him  Tuesday  morning  with  his  entire 
command.  For  two  days  he  was  in  the  saddle  constantly  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy,  as  he  says  :  "  No  surroundings  of  my  life  were  ever  more  painful. 
Ann  had  been  in  the  neighborhood  for  three  days  and  was  hanging  over 
the  bedside  of  her  dying  husband  and  I  could  not  come  to  her  support." 

[199] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Thursday  evening  as  he  was  breathing  his  last.  I  had  now 
lost  him  in  very  deed,  but  the  blow  was  not  so  heavy  as 
when  I  first  heard  he  was  killed  on  the  battlefield.  Those 
last  days  had  been  so  cherished,  so  unexpected,  I  raised  my 
heart  in  grateful  thanks  for  this,  and  also  that  the  dearest 
friends  of  both  were  with  him  at  his  death.  God  had  led 
me  there,  so  that  I  should  not  meet  the  great  sorrow  alone. 
He  had  permitted  me  to  soothe  the  last  hours  of  my  hus 
band  and  had  given  him  appreciated  knowledge  of  the  fact. 
"After  he  could  no  longer  see  me,  he  would  pass  his 
fingers  over  every  hand  he  touched  to  assure  himself  by  the 
ring  that  he  held  mine.  In  his  restlessness  he  would  drop 
the  hand  for  a  moment,  but  the  next  instant  he  would  search 
for  it  and  for  the  ring.  If  he  took  the  right  hand  and  found 
no  ring,  he  would  pass  quickly  to  the  left  hand,  and  touch 
the  ring  as  evidence  of  my  presence." 

An  extract  from  a  letter  of  Colonel  M.  R.  M.  Wallace 
written  at  this  time  to  his  sister,  gives  a  little  more  of  this 
sad  scene : 

SAVANNAH,  TENN.,  April  8,  1862. 

He  tells  about  the  battle  and  of  his  brother,  General  Wal 
lace's  fall,  and  of  the  arrival  of  Mrs.  Wallace  on  Sunday 
morning.  He  goes  on  to  say : 

"She  was  the  first  and  only  person  our  dear  brother  rec 
ognized  until  to-day.  He  evidently  knew  her  by  her  voice, 
and  manifested  his  delight  at  her  presence  by  patting  her  on 
the  waist  and  the  pressure  of  the  hand,  which  was  a  great 
comfort  under  the  circumstances.  This  morning  he  recog 
nized  me,  and  asked  where  we  were.  To-day,  also,  he  asked 
for  some  ice  and  soup.  He  suffers  a  great  deal  but  is  grow 
ing  more  and  more  conscious,  and  we  confidently  hope  and 
expect  if  his  strength  holds  out  a  sufficient  length  of  time, 
that  he  will  finally  recover.  Ann  is  by  his  side  constantly. 
Her  being  here  softens  the  sad  calamity  amazingly. 

"The  rebels  have  been  driven  back  to  their  breastworks 
at  Corinth,  and  I  think  we  have  them  about  whipped,  though 
we  may  have  another  sharp  conflict  at  Corinth.  It  seems 
as  if  the  whole  Confederate  army  had  collected  at  this  point, 
for  they  are  thicker  than  the  sands  on  the  seashore  and  fight 

[200] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

like   soldiers.     The   slaughter   has  been  terrible   on  both 
sides." 

A  letter  from  a  private,  H.  M.  Parker,  of  the  Eleventh, 
written  to  his  father  on  April  ninth,  says  in  regard  to  Gen 
eral  Wallace : 

"Our  beloved  former  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  lately 
appointed  Brigadier-General  and  assigned  to  General  C.  F. 
Smith's  division,  fell  Sunday  afternoon,  it  was  thought 
mortally  wounded.  He  lay  on  the  field  until  Monday  morn 
ing  when  he  was  taken  to  Savannah  and  to-day  we  hear  he 
is  alive,  but  there  is  little  hope  of  his  recovery.  His  fall, 
I  understand,  came  near  losing  us  the  day,  but  I  cannot 
trust  myself  to  speak  of  so  good  a  man  and  soldier.  Only 
those  who  have  served  under  him  can  realize  our  country's 
loss  in  his  fall." 

General  Halleck,  then  Commander-in-Chief  of  the  West 
ern  armies,  said  when  he  heard  of  General  Wallace's  death : 
"We  have  sustained  a  great  loss,  as  he  was  one  of  the  truest, 
bravest  men  this  country  ever  knew." 

Mrs.  Wallace's  brother,  John  Dickey,  writing  from  Ot 
tawa,  tells  of  the  feeling  there  when  the  news  was  first  re 
ceived  of  General  Wallace's  death: 

"OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS,  April  11,  1862. 

"On  Tuesday  night  we  received  the  news  that  there  had 
been  a  terrible  battle  at  Pittsburg  Landing  and  resulted  in 
a  grand  victory.  Of  course,  the  whole  community  was 
thrown  into  a  tumult  of  enthusiasm  and  joy.  Every  flag 
in  the  country  was  at  the  mast's  head  and  every  one  shout 
ing  the  tidings  of  victory.  About  ten  o'clock  on  Wednesday 
we  got  a  dispatch  that  Will  was  killed,  giving  no  particulars 
whatever.  The  news  ran  like  wild  fire  through  Ottawa,  and 
in  ten  minutes  every  flag  was  at  half-mast  and  the  streets 
were  covered  with  groups  of  tearful  eyes.  I  never  wit 
nessed  such  a  change  in  my  life.  It  cast  a  gloom  over  every 
heart,  and  we  heard  no  talk  of  anything  but  poor  Will.  It 
was  really  a  day  of  sorrow  with  everyone  in  this  vicinity." 

The  local  paper  at  Ottawa  speaks  in  the  same  strain : 

"The  rejoicing  of  our  citizens  on  Wednesday  morning 
over  the  great  news  in  Tennessee  was  suddenly  turned  to 

[201] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

mourning  on  the  receipt  of  the  news  a  few  hours  after  that 
General  Wallace  was  among  the  slain.  Of  the  hundreds  of 
brave  patriots  who  have  left  our  city  and  joined  the  armies 
of  the  Union,  there  was  perhaps  not  one  on  whom  the  af 
fections,  pride  and  hope  of  our  people  were  more  firmly 
fixed  than  General  Wallace.  A  long  resident  among  us,  a 
leading  member  of  our  bar,  a  loved  and  valued  citizen, 
amiable,  liberal,  kind-hearted,  with  a  character  adored  by 
all,  the  noble  and  manly  qualities,  and  sans  peur,  sans  re- 
proche,  his  loss  indeed,  aside  from  all  considerations  of  his 
great  service  to  his  country  in  the  field,  was  felt  by  our  citi 
zens  as  locally  an  irreparable  calamity." 

General  Grant  sent  General  Wallace  with  his  staff,  rela 
tions,  servants,  horse  and  equipments  all  North  on  a  navy 
dispatch  boat. 

The  remains  arrived  in  Chicago  on  Sunday  evening, 
April  thirteenth.  The  Chicago  paper  says: 

"The  remains  of  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  who  so 
bravely  sacrificed  his  life  at  the  late  battle  of  Pittsburg 
Landing,  arrived  in  this  city  Sunday  evening  about  9  o'clock 
on  a  special  train  from  Cairo  furnished  by  direction  from 
General  Strong.-  The  body  was  in  charge  of  Colonel  T. 
Lyle  Dickey  of  the  Fourth  Illinois  cavalry,  accompanied  by 
Major  M.  R.  M.  Wallace  of  the  Fourth  cavalry,  a  brother 
of  the  deceased.  Lieutenant  Cyrus  E.  Dickey,  Lieutenant 
L  P.  Rumsey,  Aides-de-Camp  to  General  Wallace,  Captain 
C.  Y.  Hotchkiss,  Acting  Adjutant-General.  The  wife  of 
General  Wallace,  who  arrived  at  Pittsburg  Landing  the 
same  day  her  husband  received  his  death  wound,  also  ac 
companied  his  remains. 

"At  the  depot  they  were  met  by  a  detachment  of  about 
fifty  men  composed  of  Companies  D  and  H  of  the  Irish 
brigade.  The  detachment  was  in  charge  of  Captain  Simp 
son,  Company  D. 

"The  body  was  placed  in  a  hearse  which  had  been  pro 
vided  by  order  of  Mayor  Rumsey  and  about  half-past  nine 
the  procession  started  from  the  depot  in  the  following  or 
der: 

"Two  files  of  soldiers  with  reversed  arms.     Hearse  at- 

[202] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

tended  by  six  commissioned  officers,  four  from  the  Irish 
brigade,  and  two  from  the  Scotch  regiment,  as  pall  bearers. 
A  rear  guard  of  six  men  with  fixed  bayonets. 

"The  procession  proceeded  up  Lake  Streec  to  Clark,  up 
Clark  to  Van  Buren  and  thence  to  the  Rock  Island  depot, 
and  notwithstanding  the  lateness  of  the  hour,  was  attended 
by  a  large  concourse  of  citizens.  The  tolling  of  the  Court 
House  bell  as  the  procession  passed  through  the  streets 
startled  the  whole  city,  many  not  being  aware  of  the  death 
of  the  General. 

"It  was  impossible  to  attend  the  remains  of  the  dead  with 
public  demonstration  of  sorrow  which  would  have  been 
done  had  earlier  notice  of  the  arrival  of  the  train  been  re 
ceived.  Combined  with  this,  the  arrival  of  a  large  number 
of  prisoners  at  Camp  Douglas,  rendered  it  absolutely  neces 
sary  that  but  few  of  the  comparatively  small  force  stationed 
there  should  be  withdrawn  for  the  purpose  of  escort  duty." 

At  Ottawa  the  paper  speaks  of  the  arrival  of  the  funeral 
cortege : 

"OTTAWA,  ILLINOIS,  April  19,  1862. 

"General  Wallace  was  brought  to  this  city  Monday 
morning,  April  14th,  at  4  o'clock.  The  tolling  of  che  bells 
of  the  various  churches  announced  at  that  hour  the  arrival 
of  the  body.  An  escort  of  the  Knights  Templar  and  a  dele 
gation  of  citizens  was  at  the  depot  to  receive  it  and  ac 
company  it  to  his  late  residence.  At  2  o'clock  p.  M.  the 
body  was  laid  in  state  at  the  Supreme  Court  House  and 
visited  by  thousands  of  citizens  and  strangers.  Tuesday 
morning,  attended  by  the  members  of  the  Masonic  frater 
nity  the  body  was  carried  to  the  Episcopal  Church.  At  the 
church  the  usual  rites  for  the  burial  of  the  dead  were  per 
formed  by  Mr.  Benedict,  the  rector,  assisted  by  Reverend 
M.  Clark,  also  of  this  city,  and  who  was  formerly  chaplain 
of  the  famous  Eleventh  regiment.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  ceremonies  in  the  church  the  procession  was  re-formed 
and  escorted  the  remains  to  the  family  burial  place  in  a 
beautiful  spot  near  his  residence  on  the  bluff.  The  funeral 
ceremonies  were  entirely  of  a  civic  order,  there  being  no 
military  organization  in  this  vicinity.  They  were  under  the 

[203] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

immediate  control  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  in  accordance 
with  a  wish  frequently  expressed  by  General  Wallace,  while 
alive,  to  be  buried  with  Masonic  rites.  The  only  military  in 
the  cortege  were  Captain  Hotchkiss,  Lieutenant  Dickey  and 
Lieutenant  Rumsey,  General  Wallace's  aides.  The  charger 
of  General  Wallace  was  led  in  the  procession  by  his  body 
servant,  and  the  old  flag  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois  regiment, 
which  had  been  so  fearfully  riddled  at  Fort  Donelson,  was 
borne  by  one  of  his  orderlies. 

"The  day  of  his  burial  was  one  of  unusual  gloom  ex 
ternally.  Yet,  notwithstanding  rain  and  mud,  the  citizens 
thronged  the  streecs,  swelling  the  funeral  cortege.  Business 
was  suspended  and  stores  and  offices  closed.  It  is  not  often 
an  entire  people  are  brought  to  such  a  general  and  sincere 
mourning.  Indeed,  it  is  seldom  that  the  removal  of  a  single 
individual  affects  so  many  minds  with  a  sense  of  personal 
loss. 

"The  occasion  and  circumstances  were  peculiar.  The 
deceased  had  occupied  a  prominent  position  in  this  county, 
and  held  a  high  place  in  public  esteem.  He  had  fallen  with 
distinguished  honors  in  devotion  to  his  country,  in  a  cause 
in  which  our  sympathies  are  one. 

"General  Wallace  was  universally  respected,  by  many 
loved.  Naturally  noble  and  generous,  always  courteous,  his 
life  in  most  respects  far  above  that  of  ordinary  men,  was  a 
model  of  manly  dignity  and  honor,  and  yet  of  engaging  sim 
plicity  and  unaffected  modesty. 

"One  would  hardly  have  supposed  that  a  spirit  so  gentle, 
a  disposition  so  modest  and  retiring,  was  meet  for  the  war 
rior  and  chieftain.  Yet  Wallace  was  at  the  head  of  his  col 
umn  unabashed,  calm  and  dauntless  of  soul.  His  men  had 
all  confidence  in  him.  Under  such  Generals  men  do  not 
run.  They  realize  the  value  of  the  life  of  their  leader,  the 
soundness  of  his  judgment  and  the  justice  of  his  cause. 

"But  he  is  gone.  He  sleeps  with  the  heroic  dead.  He 
has  closed  an  honorable  career.  He  leaves  an  untarnished 
reputation." 

Another  newspaper  article  in  an  Ottawa  paper  speaks  of 
the  service  rendered  by  the  Knights  Templar: 

[204] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"The  occasion  of  the  funeral  obsequies  to  General  Wal 
lace  in  this  city  on  Monday  and  Tuesday  brought  promi 
nently  to  the  notice  of  our  citizens  a  branch  of  the  Masonic 
order  about  which  more  deserves  to  be  known.  In  the  ab 
sence  of  any  military  organization  in  this  region  there  was 
a  real  embarrassment  felt  at  the  meeting  of  citizens  how 
certain  formalities  at  which  military  of  some  sort  seemed 
indispensable,  were  to  be  arranged.  They  were  happily  re 
lieved,  however,  by  an  officer  of  the  Knights  Templar,  who 
assured  them  the  order  was  abundantly  able  to  meet  the 
exigency.  And  they  did  it  nobly.  From  the  moment  the 
body  arrived  it  was  surrounded  by  a  guard  of  honor,  thor 
oughly  trained  and  understanding  their  duty  to  the  last  min 
ute.  They  escorted  the  body  in  true  military  order  to  the 
residence  of  General  Wallace,  guarded  it  faithfully  while 
there,  escorted  it  to  the  Court  House  and  guarded  it  while  it 
lay  in  state  and  surrounded  it  with  brilliant  military  escort 
in  the  funeral  cortege.  They  deserve  all  honor,  yet  it  was 
with  them  a  labor  of  love.  General  Wallace  has  occupied 
the  highest  position  in  the  order  and  ever  the  first  place  in 
the  hearts  of  the  brotherhood.  The  order  was  commanded 
by  Sir  Knight  Henry  C.  Ranney  of  Chicago,  Grand  Re 
corder." 

Here  are  given  some  extracts  from  a  discourse  on  the 
death  of  General  Wallace  preached  by  the  Reverend  Z.  Col- 
man  at  the  Baptist  Church,  Ottawa,  April  13th,  1862,  from 
the  text  II.  Samuel,  13 :2.  *  *  *  *  "And  the  victory 
that  day  was  turned  into  mourning  unto  all  people." 
*  *  *  *  "Our  text  is  especially  appropriate  to  our  own 
city.  These  victories  in  which  our  people,  and  the  people  of 
this  State,  have  so  direct,  immediate  and  large  an  interest, 
have  really  been  turned  into  mourning  to  us.  Our  banners 
that  would  gladly  have  floated  from  the  top  of  their  staffs, 
have  been  draped  with  weeds  of  woe  and  mournfully  hung 
at  half-mast.  The  shout  that  would  have  gone  up  from 
many  patriotic  hearts,  has  given  place  to  the  solemn  knell 
and  the  mournful  dirge.  Countenances  that  would  have 
been  radiant  with  joy,  have  been  covered  with  sadness  and 
gloom.  Tearful  eyes  and  bowed  heads  have  told  the  grief 

[205] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

of  our  people.  Surely  the  victory  this  day  is  turned  into 
mourning  to  this  people.  And  these  demonstrations  of  grief 
are  not  without  a  cause.  One  of  the  noblest  forms  that  has 
moved  among  us  for  years  has  been  borne  through  the 
streets  to  its  final  resting  place.  Marred,  bruised  and  brok 
en  by  the  bloody  hand  of  treason,  one  known  to  all — pure 
and  honorable  in  all  the  relationships  of  life,  in  manhood's 
noble  prime,  he  has  been  smitten  down  by  the  cruel  traitor 
ous  hand  of  slavery.  His  place  at  the  bar — in  the  political 
assembly,  at  the  Nation's  anniversary,  in  the  social  gather 
ing,  in  the  family  circle,  the  place  of  worship,  shall  know 
him  no  more  forever.  Not  only  has  the  grave  closed  over 
our  gallant  dead,  but  it  has  opened  at  our  feet  and  closed 
over  one  of  the  bravest  hearts  that  responded  to  his  country, 
in  the  hour  of  the  Nation's  peril.  A  friend,  a  neighbor,  a 
citizen,  a  patriot,  a  hero,  with  the  well  earned  honors  of 
his  country  fresh  about  his  brow,  has  been  brought  from  the 
distant  bloody  field  and1  borne  to  his  long  home ;  and  the 
mourners  go  about  the  streets.  Surely  the  casualties  of 
war  have  turned  this  victory  into  mourning  to  this  people. 
*  *  *  *  When  victories  vindicate  the  Government  in 
its  legitimate  work  they  accomplish  their  proper  object. 
When  the  murderer  is  apprehended  and  brought  to  justice, 
it  vindicates  the  Government,  it  sends  a  feeling  of  security 
to  every  inhabitant. 

"When  treason  lifts  its  murderous  hand  against  the  Gov 
ernment,  lets  loose  the  scourge  of  civil  war,  the  Government 
that  suppresses  the  treason,  punishes  the  traitors,  restores 
peace,  spreads  its  protecting  shield  over  the  feeblest  indi 
vidual,  and  humblest  calling;  such  a  government  vindicates 
itself.  Unless  this  Government  accomplishes  this,  we  shall 
have  other  causes  of  sorrow  and  mourning  besides  the 
dreadful  casualties  of  the  battlefield.  When  the  news  of 
this  last  battle  in  which  our  own  gallant  Wallace  fell 
reached  me,  the  dead,  the  dying,  the  wounded,  the  desolate 
homes  and  hearts  for  a  time  completely  filled  my  mind, 
shutting  out  everything  else.  I  seemed  for  a  moment  to  for 
get  my  country  and  the  cruel  treason  that  sought  its  de 
struction.  My  soul  was  filled  with  strange  and  solemn  emo 
tions  unlike  anything  I  had  ever  experienced  before.  As  I 

[206] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

recovered  from  the  shock,  my  first  thoughts  were:  'Must 
so  much  precious  blood  be  shed  to  wash  away  the  Nation's 
sins?'  My  soul  filled  with  grief.  I  have  watched  to  see  the 
results  upon  the  public  mind.  These  dear  bought  victories 
ought  to  purge  the  national  politics.  They  ought  to  quicken 
into  life  the  national  conscience.  They  ought  to  arouse 
every  patriot's  heart  to  the  fixed  determination  to  banish 
human  bondage  from  this  land.  Unless  these  bloody  vic 
tories  lead  to  these  results  we  have  many  bitter  tears  yet  to 
weep.  Unless  the  time  of  the  end  draws  nigh,  the  time 
when  the  people,  freed  from  party  shackles,  long  and  long 
outraged  by  this  monstrous  iniquity,  shall  rise  in  their 
majesty,  and  by  the  God  of  justice  swear  that  slavery,  the 
cause  of  all  this  woe,  shall  die.  Stopping  short  of  this  our 
victories  will  be  turned  into  mourning  more  grievous  than 
we  have  yet  experienced.  *  *  *  *  We  do  well  to 
mourn.  This  victory  has  cast  a  gloom  over  this  city.  Here 
Wallace  pursued  his  professional  studies  when  a  youth.  He 
has  grown  up  to  noble  manhood  in  this  community.  We  all 
knew  him  well.  Of  all  the  brave  men  who  rallied  to  the 
standard  of  their  country,  not  one  possessed  a  braver  or 
more  patriotic  heart.  But  fearless  as  he  was,  his  modesty 
and  gentleness  and  heart  were  equal  to  his  bravery.  On  the 
bloody  field  of  D'onelson  after  that  sanguinary  conflict  the 
fragments  of  the  gallant  Eleventh  were  mustered  again.  I 
am  told  that  when  the  small  number  that  survived  that 
dreadful  day  was  announced,  Wallace,  brave,  calm,  cool  and 
collected  as  he  always  was,  shook  with  emotion  and  wept 
like  a  child.  The  dead,  the  dead,  his  own  companions-in 
arms,  who  had  chosen  him  for  their  leader,  lay  strewn 
around  on  the  battlefield.  I  shall  never  forget  one  incident 
that  revealed  the  man.  None  but  those  who  were  at  the 
National  Capital  on  the  fourth  of  March,  1861,  will  ever 
fully  know  the  state  of  the  public  mind  in  the  metropolis  of 
the  nation  at  that  eventful  time.  The  President-elect,  from 
considerations  of  safety,  had  stolen  into  the  Capital  under 
the  curtains  of  night;  the  city  was  patrolled  with  armed 
men,  many  looking  forward  to  the  inauguration  day  with 
fearful  forebodings.  Many  entertained  serious  fears  that 
the  streets  would  flow  with  blood,  and  the  President-elect 

[207] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

would  be  assassinated  on  his  way  to  the  Capitol  or  upon  the 
platform.  This  may  seem  like  folly;  but  it  was  no  folly 
then  and  there.  Wallace  was  a  personal  friend  of  the  Pres 
ident's.  He  thought  of  proposing  to  those  having  charge  of 
the  arrangements  to  allow  himself  and  a  few  known  friends 
to  be  admitted  to  the  platform  secretly  armed  and  ready  for 
any  emergency,  ready  to  throw  themselves  between  the 
President  and  any  stealthy  foe  that  might  in  spite  of  all  pre 
cautions  suddenly  fall  upon  him.  He  said  to  me:  'Will 
you  be  of  that  number?'  'Certainly,'  was  my  reply.  On 
inquiring  he  found  that  every  precaution  that  friendship, 
prudence  or  patriotism  could  dictate  would  be  provided. 
That  proposition  truly  revealed  the  man.  He  was  just  as 
ready  then  to  grapple  with  treason,  though  in  the  assassin's 
garb,  as  he  afterwards  was  to  meet  it  upon  the  field.  It  is 
meet  that  we  should  weep,  for  he  was  our  neighbor  and  our 
friend  as  well  as  a  noble  man. 

"We  at  least  should  resolve  never  to  leave  in  peace  the 
great  iniquity  that  has  kindled  this  rebellion,  and  smote 
down  our  friend  and  one  of  the  Nation's  patriots  and  he 
roes.  Let  others  feel  as  they  may,  there  should  be  but  one 
determination  with  us — that  we  will  never  cease  till  the 
great  crime  that  nerved  the  arm  that  laid  our  loved  and 
honorable  Wallace  low  is  destroyed,  root  and  branch.  I  laid 
my  hand  on  his  coffin,  and  with  emotions  unlike  any  that 
ever  agitated  my  bosom  before,  made  a  solemn  vow — that 
while  God  gives  me  breath  I  will  not  cease  to  wage  a  war 
against  that  great  wrong  that  has  shed  the  blood  of  our 
friend,  and  now  seeks  the  destruction  of  our  country." 

In  a  Masonic  paper  is  the  following. 

"!N  MEMORIAM. 

"Sunday,  Fourth  Month,  Twentieth  Day,  A.  L.  5862. 
''  'Let  the  bell  toll,  a  saintly  soul 
Floats  down  the  Stygian  River/ 

"Fourteen  years  since,  while  residing  in  Central  Illi 
nois,  we  were  so  favored  as  to  enjoy  the  intimate  compan 
ionship  of  one  on  whom  'Every  God  had  set  His  seal,  to 
give  the  world  assurance  of  a  man/  The  reputation  has 
since  become  national  of  the  then  capable  but  comparatively 

[208] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

unknown  young  man  whom  we  so  esteemed  and  respected. 
He  was  then  just  beginning  the  practice  of  law,  having 
finished  his  studies  after  his  return  from  Mexico,  where  at 
Buena  Vista,  he,  as  Adjutant  of  an  Illinois  regiment,  'flashed 
his  maiden  sword/  and  achieved  distinction.  Honorable  to 
a  fault,  in  love  with  his  profession,  faithful  to  his  clients, 
and  decidedly  talented,  he  'pursued  the  even  tenor  of  his 
way/  and  at  the  time  the  body  politic  had  become  covered 
with  the  festering  sores  of  rebellion  and  the  machinations 
of  the  conspirators  were  fully  developed  in  the  memorable 
bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter;  he  was  in  the  enjoyment  of 
a  large  practice,  and  was  the  center  of  a  host  of  admiring 
friends.  Born  of  Southern  stock,  he  was  yet  utterly  loyal, 
and  at  once  placed  himself  at  the  disposal  of  his  country. 
Unanimously,  and  without  solicitation  on  his  part,  he  was 
elected  to  command  the  Illinois  Eleventh,  and,  having  good 
material  with  which  to  work,  he  soon  made  it  one  of  the 
finest  regiments  in  the  service.  As  commander  of  the  Post 
at  Bird's  Point  and  as  Chief  of  Brigade  at  Fort  Donelson, 
he  evinced  those  high  qualities,  that  aptitude  for  command, 
and  that  calm  courage,  which  fully  proved  his  right  to  the 
encomiums  which  were  so  cordially  bestowed  upon  him,  and 
he  reflected  honor  upon  the  West,  and  upon  the  Fraternity 
of  which  he  was  so  earnest  a  member.  At  Pittsburg  Land 
ing  he  commanded  a  division,  and  fell  at  the  head  of  his 
column  on  the  first  day  of  the  fight.  When  struck  by  the 
fatal  bullet  he  dismounted  as  coolly  as  if  on  parade  *  *  * 
supported  by  two  of  his  comrades  he  laid  down  to  die.  In 
the  'hurly  burly'  of  those  'moving  accidents  by  flood  and 
field'  the  retreat,  the  rally  and  the  repulse,  which  rendered 
famous  the  subsequent  thirty-six  hours  our  brother  was  for 
gotten.  After  the  battle,  search  was  made  for  him  and  he 
was  found  on  the  spot  where  he  had  lain  so  long,  exposed 
to  the  elements.  He  was  insensible,  and  not  long  afterwards 
he  breathed  his  last.  Sorrowing  companions  in  arms  bore 
him  to  a  place  of  shelter,  and  to  his  stricken  wife;  and 
thence  his  body  was  brought  to  Ottawa,  Illinois,  where  he 
had  so  long  lived  and  where  it  was  buried  with  Masonic 
honors  one  day  last  week — the  whole  population  mourning 
in  unison  with  his  bereaved  family. 

[209] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

"Brave  and  capable  W.  H.  L.  Wallace!  Ten  thousand 
rebels  slain  cannot  compensate  for  his  loss !  'His  work  was 
unfinished,  and  brethren  mourn.  Green  be  the  sod  above 
him;  honored  be  his  memory!  Eloquent  advocate,  true 
patriot,  faithful  brother,  gallant  soldier ;  he  has  gone  to  his 
reward  in  the  Celestial  Lodge  above  and  'after  life's  fitful 
fever  he  sleeps  well.'  " 


[210] 


CHAPTER  XX. 

PUBLIC  OPINION  OF  GENERAL  WALLACE.    His  SERVICES  AS 

AN  OFFICER.    His  CHARACTER  AS  A  MAN. 

MEMORIAL  WINDOW. 

A  STRONG  friendship  existed  between  General  Wal 
lace  and  General  T.  E.  G.  Ransom — they  were  kin 
dred  souls.  Ransom  went  out  as  Major  in  Colonel 
Wallace's  regiment,  rising  to  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Colonel 
and  Brigadier-General,  the  latter  position  before  he  was 
thirty  years  old.  Dr.  Eddy  says  of  him:  "Young,  heroic 
and  handsome,  brave,  enthusiastic  and  manly,  courageous  as 
a  lion,  tender  as  a  woman.  No  man  so  completely  recalls 
the  best  qualities  of  the  days  of  chivalry.  No  braver  heart 
was  laid  upon  the  country's  altar,  no  clearer  head  was 
bowed  before  the  great  destroyer,  no  more  unsullied  sword 
has  been  laid  upon  the  wall.  Yielding  up  his  life  in  the 
very  flower  of  youth  he  will  remain  in  memory  ever  young." 

After  General  Wallace's  death  Mrs.  Wallace  gave  his 
Colonel's  shoulder  straps  to  Colonel  Ransom,  who  writes 
her  the  following  letter : 

"HEADQUARTERS,  ELEVENTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY, 

"CAMP  STANTON,  April  28,  1862. 
"DEAR  MADAM  : 

"Your  present,  with  the  accompanying  beautiful  letter, 
handed  to  me  by  your  brother,  are  before  me.  I  can  only 
express  my  gratitude  for  the  honor  you  would  confer  in 
your  expressed  wish  for  me  to  wear  the  'pasantz'  of  your 
late  lamented  husband.  While  I  appreciate  your  noble  mo 
tive,  while  I  feel  honored  with  the  trust,  my  love  for  your 
husband,  my  reverence  for  his  memory,  prevents  me  from 
placing  the  sacred  emblems  so  lately  worn  by  him  upon  my 
unworthy  shoulders. 

"But  I  will  promise  you  that  they  shall  be  worn  nearer 
to  my  he.art  through  the  battles  that  may  follow.  I  trust 
they  may  constantly  remind  me  of  him  who  has  gone  before 
and  may  they  nerve  me  to  emulate  his  noble  teachings  and 
example.  And  then  when  these  scenes  of  blood  and  car- 

[211] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

nage  are  past  and  Peace  once  more  reigns  over  our  land, 
I  shall  hope  to  return  these  precious  relics  to  you.  If  it 
should  be  otherwise  and  I  fall  at  the  head  of  the  'old  Elev 
enth'  I  shall  but  follow  in  the  steps  of  the  illustrious  dead, 
our  former  brave  commander,  and  still  'the  eagles'  can  be 
borne  to  you  by  other  hands,  who  will  tell  you  whether  the 
laurel  won  for  them  when  worn  by  their  late  owner,  have 
had  their  luster  dimmed  while  entrusted  to  my  keeping. 

"As  the  friend  of  your  late  husband  and  of  yourself, 
having  received  so  many  flattering  evidences  of  your  con 
fidence  and  esteem,  it  perhaps,  should  be  my  mission  in  this 
hour  of  your  deepest  sorrow  to  offer  you  consolation,  but, 
my  dear  Madam,  I  am  unequal  to  this  task.  I  know  in  ex 
pressing  my  own  feelings  I  should  add  new  pangs  to  your 
already  overburdened  heart.  I  could  but  tell  you  of  long 
hours  of  sadness,  of  frequent  lonely  rides  to  the  spot  where 
he  fell  and  how  I  bow  with  sorrow  when  I  reflect  that  never 
more  can  I  meet  that  noble  man  on  earth — how  can  I  who 
have  been  governed  by  worldly  thoughts,  ambition  and 
pride,  intrude  upon  the  sacred  grief  and  offer  consolation 
to  one  whose  Christian  life  and  happy  belief  points  to  a 
higher,  nobler  sphere,  where  as  your  beloved  husband  said, 
'We  meet  in  Heaven/  Then  let  these  last  beautiful  words 
of  that  dying  hero  serve  as  a  bright  light  to  guide  you 
through  the  dark  paths  of  this  life. 

"That  this  hope  will  sustain  you,  that  a  kind  Providence 
who  has  promised  to  care  for  the  widow  will  watch  over 
and  protect  you  amid  the  many  trials  that  are  before  you  is 
my  earnest  prayer. 

"Believe  me,  Madam,  that  anything  that  it  may  be  in  my 
power  to  do  to  lighten  your  burden  of  cares  thrown  upon 
you  in  any  way  whatever  I  shall  be  happy  to  assist  you,  and 
trust  the  near  ties  that  bound  your  late  husband  and  myself 
together,  the  love  I  shall  ever  sacredly  cherish  for  his  mem 
ory,  will  be  evidence  to  you  of  the  happiness  I  should  feel 
to  be  of  the  slightest  service  to  you,  his  nearest  friend. 

With  expressions  of  highest  esteem, 

"I  am  truly  your  friend, 

"T.  E.  G.  RANSOM. 

"Mrs.  Ann  Wallace,  Ottawa,  Illinois." 

[2121 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Captain  William  McMichael,  Assistant  Adjutant-General 
to  Major-General  C.  F.  Smith,  and  acting  in  the  same  ca 
pacity  for  General  Wallace  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  was 
taken  prisoner  on  that  fateful  day.  When  he  returned  from 
captivity,  he  wrote  the  following  letter  to  Mrs.  Wallace, 
giving  some  additional  facts  of  the  battle  and  her  husband's 
movements : 

"CORINTH,  Miss.,  June  29,  1862. 
"MRS.  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE,  MADAM  : 

"I  have  recently  returned  to  our  lines  from  captivity  in 
the  South  and  take  the  liberty  of  thus  addressing  you  in 
order  to  communicate  some  facts  in  reference  to  the  late 
General  Wallace.  The  desire  which  I  feel  to  express  to  you 
my  sincere  regret  at  General  Wallace's  death,  and  the  pre 
sumption  that  any  incidents  of  the  action  on  the  battlefield 
of  Shiloh  would  prove  of  interest  are  my  excuses  for  writ 
ing. 

"Together  with  other  officers  of  Major-General  Smith's 
staff,  as  well  as  the  General's  own  immediate  aides,  I  was 
with  him  when  he  placed  his  division  in  position  on  Sunday 
morning.  I  had  the  honor  of  serving  with  him  during  the 
day  and  was  riding  in  his  company  when  he  received  the 
fatal  wound  from  which  he  has  since  died. 

"Our  division  at  the  time  was  changing  front,  when  Gen 
eral  Wallace,  who  was  riding  slowly  immediately  by  the 
side  of  his  men,  was  struck.  A  line  of  skirmishers  from  the 
enemy's  forces  was  deployed  on  a  ridge  commanding  the 
open  space  through  which  we  were  passing  at  the  time,  and 
my  impression  has  always  been  that  General  Wallace  re 
ceived  his  death  wound  from  one  of  these.  He  rose  slightly 
in  his  saddle,  uttered  a  brief  exclamation  of  pain,  and  then 
fell  apparently  lifeless  to  the  ground.  I  had  supposed  that 
he  died  immediately,  but  with  a  view  of  saving  his  body 
it  was  taken  charge  of  by  four  men  to  be  borne  to  the  river. 
I  afterwards  ascertained  they  were  obliged  to  leave  the 
General,  owing  to  the  galling  fire  which  was  poured  upon 
them  by  the  enemy. 

"After  my  capture,  having  heard  that  the  General  was 
still  on  the  field,  I  succeeded  in  finding  his  body,  and  re 
mained  with  him  until  removed  to  the  rear  to  join  the  other 

[213] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

prisoners.  I  found  him  still  alive,  and  when  I  spoke  to  him 
he  seemed  conscious  in  a  measure,  but  wholly  unable  to 
speak.  Although  obliged  to  leave  him  myself,  yet  a  South 
ern  General  who  was  present  promised  that  his  wounds 
should  be  dressed  and  every  attention  paid  him.  Since  my 
return  I  have  learned  of  his  recapture  and  subsequent  death. 

''Permit  me,  Madam,  to  express  to  you  the  deep  regret 
with  which  I  heard  the  last  sad  news,  and  to  say  chat  the 
feeling  of  sorrow  at  the  General's  death  is  universal 
throughout  the  division  which  he  that  day  commanded. 

You  know  that  at  Shiloh  he  led  the  troops  of  General 
Smith's  division.  He  had  been  with  us  for  only  a  short 
time  previous  to  the  battle,  but  possessed  the  perfect  confi 
dence  of  the  division.  His  intrepid  conduct  at  Donelson  and 
the  equally  honorable  history  of  his  earlier  life  were  famil 
iar  to  us  all,  and  he  filled  as  successfully  as  any  officer  who 
could  have  been  placed  over  the  division  the  place  vacated 
by  the  sickness  of  our  commander,  General  Smith. 

"You  have,  of  course,  heard  how  gallantly  General  Wal 
lace's  command  behaved  that  day  and  how  often  the  enemy 
were  repulsed  from  his  line.  Four  regiments  of  our  divi 
sion,  or  rather  their  remnants  after  the  losses  of  the  day's 
severe  fighting  were,  it  is  true,  captured,  but  it  was  not  until 
some  time  after  the  General  himself  had  fallen,  and  our 
division  had  become  separated  by  the  want  of  co-operation 
incident  upon  his  loss.  He  was  shot  at  a  most  critical  junc 
ture,  just  as  we  were  changing  position.  Had  he  escaped 
wounds  that  day  the  advantage  to  our  cause  cannot  be  too 
highly  estimated.  He  fell  about  five  o'clock,  having  pre 
served  his  line  through  the  entire  day,  and  it  is  more  than 
probable  that  had  he  survived,  not  only  would  the  regiments 
of  our  division  have  been  saved,  but  also  those  gallant  men 
of  General  Prentiss'  command,  who  were  co-operating  with 
us  on  the  left,  and  who  were  captured  at  the  same  time 
with  the  men  of  our  division. 

"General  Wallace  communicated  frequently  with  General 
Prentiss  during  the  day,  their  last  interview  having  taken 
place  about  four  o'clock.  General  Prentiss'  impression  was 
at  that  time,  and  he  is  of  the  opinion  that  it  was  General 
Wallace's  also,  that  the  right  wing  of  the  army  was  still 

[214] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

firm,  and  hence  they  decided  to  still  maintain  their  ground 
from  which  the  enemy  had  failed  to  drive  them,  the  men 
being  in  excellent  spirits. 

"The  capture  of  General  Prentiss  and  the  death  of  Gen 
eral  Wallace  have  prevented  a  correct  report  of  the  actions 
of  their  respective  commands  from  being  made  known,  but 
I  am  sure  that  when  the  true  history  of  Shiloh  shall  be 
written  the  chief  glory  of  Sunday's  fighting  will  rest  upon 
them — upon  General  Prentiss,  who,  overwhelmed  and  out 
numbered  by  the  enemy,  was  driven  from  the  first  position, 
but  rallied  a  portion  of  his  command  (composed  though  it 
was  principally  of  raw  troops)  and  taking  position  on  our 
left,  refused  to  retreat  from  a  line  he  had  been  ordered  to 
hold,  and  which  he  still  believed  tenable — and  upon  General 
Wallace  who  fell  by  the  side  of  the  men  he  had  so  gallantly 
led  that  day  into  action,  whom  he  had  protected  by  his  skill, 
inspired  by  his  presence  and  whom  he  had  never  seen  falter. 

"In  reference  to  General  Wallace's  high  qualities  as  a 
man,  aside  from  his  distinguished  ability  as  a  soldier,  it  is 
not  for  me  to  speak ;  but  I  may  mention  as  another  evidence 
of  that  generosity  for  which  he  was  so  well  known,  that  on 
Sunday  he  gave  regiment  after  regiment  of  his  best  troops 
to  strengthen  points  which  seemed  to  be  more  severely 
threatened  than  his  own  division.  Into  his  military  creed 
there  entered  no  selfish  principle ;  when  he  fought  it  was  not 
with  a  view  to  personal  aggrandizement,  but  with  the  one 
patriotic  aim  for  the  success  of  our  general  cause.  Like  the 
brave  General  whom  he  succeeded  in  command,  he  scorned 
to  seek  reputation  by  the  petty  means  by  which  some  men 
endeavor  to  rise,  and  like  him,  his  name  has  become  a 
synonym  of  all  that  is  true,  gallant  and  soldierly. 

"Very  respectfully  yours, 

"WILLIAM  MCMICHAEL, 
"Assistant  Adjutant-General  to  late  Major-General  Smith." 

When  General  Wallace  fell  he  was  but  seventy-five  feet 
away  from  the  enemy  and  his  commanding  figure,  dignified 
bearing,  and  utter  disregard  of  self-preservation  in  the 
midst  of  the  hurricane  of  danger  around  him,  begat  the  ad 
miration  of  his  foes,  so  that  General  Leonidas  Polk  sent  one 

[215] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

of  his  officers  to  ascertain  who  he  was,  as  came  out  in  the 
following  correspondence  sixteen  years  afterwards : 

"SAVANNAH,  GEORGIA,  June  9th,  1878. 
"To  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  ILLINOIS,  SPRINGFIELD — SIR: 

"On  the  afternoon  of  the  first  day's  fight  at  Shiloh 
(called  by  your  side  Pittsburg  Landing)  an  officer  was  seen 
trying  to  stop  his  men  from  retreating,  and  when  he  found 
that  he  could  not,  he  deliberately  reined  his  horse  and  rode 
slowly  off.  He  was  shot,  and  he  fell  immediately  from  his 
horse. 

"General  Polk  expressed  a  wish  to  know  who  'that  brave 
man  is/  I  use  his  words,  and  I  galloped  up  to  the  body  and 
took  from  his  coat  breast-pocket  the  enclosed  papers,  prov 
ing  him  to  have  been  General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  of  your 
State.  These  papers  I  sent  to  my  home  then  in  Sola,  and 
I  have  only  to-day  found  them  among  old  papers.  I  beg 
to  hand  them  to  you  with  the  request  that  you  cause  inquiry 
to  be  made  for  his  family  and  return  to  them  these  papers 
taken  from  General  Wallace's  body  for  the  purpose  of  find 
ing  out  who  the  brave  officer  was  who  lost  his  life  within 
seventy-five  feet  of  us. 

"Though  an  enemy  at  the  time  we  could  not  but  respect 
him  for  the  brave  manner  in  which  he  acted  when  his  com 
mand  was  in  retreat.  He  fell  in  a  road,  but  we  took  his 
body  up  and  moved  it  out  of  the  way  of  cannon  and  caissons 
and  I  suppose  that  of  course  as  the  'tide  of  battle'  turned  in 
your  favor  the  next  day,  his  body  was  recovered.  I  beg  to 
say  that  if  I  could  have  found  these  papers  before  they 
should  have  been  returned  as  they  now  have  been. 

"I  will  be  pleased  to  hear  from  you  that  this  package  has 
not  only  been  received  by  you,  but  that  you  have  found  the 
family  of  General  Wallace  and  have  had  the  same  delivered 
to  their  hands.  I  am,  sir,  yours  respectfully, 

"M.  R.  TUNNO." 


[216] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

Governor  Cullom  to  T.  Lyle  Dickey. 

"EXECUTIVE  OFFICE,  SPRINGFIELD,  ILLINOIS, 

"June  27,  1878. 
HON.  T.  LYLE  DICKEY,  DEAR  SIR: 

"It  gives  me  great  pleasure  to  hand  you  herewith  a  let 
ter  from  M.  R.  Tunno,  Esq.,  of  Savannah,  Georgia,  enclos 
ing  certain  papers  taken  from  the  body  of  General  W.  H. 
L.  Wallace  at  the  time  he  fell  on  the  field  of  Pittsburg 
Landing,  with  a  request  that  you  will  forward  them  to  his 
widow. 

"Mr.  Tunno's  account  of  the  circumstances  attending 
General  Wallace's  fall  and  the  testimony  he  bears  to  his 
gallant  conduct  will  be  highly  valued  by  his  family. 

"Yours  respectfully, 

"S.  M.  CULLOM." 

Judge  Dickey  to  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Wallace : 

"GRAND  PACIFIC  HOTEL,  CHICAGO,  ILLINOIS, 

"June  28th,  1878. 
"MY  VERY  DEAR  DAUGHTER: 

"This  morning  while  at  breakfast  I  read  in  the  Chicago 
Times  of  this  date,  the  article  headed  'A  Reminiscence  of 
Shiloh'  relating  to  an  incident  attending  the  fall  of  your 
noble  husband  at  that  battle.  I  have  this  moment  received 
the  papers  referred  to  with  Tunno's  letter  to  the  Governor 
of  the  State  and  a  letter  from  Governor  Cullom  to  me. 

"I  enclose  to  you  herewith  a  slip  cut  from  the  newspaper 
containing  the  article  referred  to  and  the  package  sent  by 
the  Governor. 

"Everything  connected  with  that  dreadful  hour  is  of  in 
tense  interest  to  me  as  well  as  to  you. 

"It  seems  strange  to  me  that  no  other  papers  were  found 
on  his  person,  if  it  was  in  fact  examined  immediately  after 
he  fell.  At  this  length  of  time  the  recollection  of  Mr. 
Tunno  as  to  all  the  circumstances  may  not  be  entirely  accu 
rate.  My  recollection  is  that  General  Wallace,  after  he 
fell,  was  carried  a  short  distance  by  Cyrus,  assisted  by  some 
orderlies  and  then  laid  (not  in  the  road)  but  by  the  roadside 
and  near  a  tent,  and  that  he  was  found  by  Cyrus  on  Monday 

[217] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

morning  at  the  same  place,  but  evidently  cared  for  in  some 
degree  by  the  humane  hand  of  some  of  the  enemy. 

"I  will  write  to  Mr.  Tunno  at  once  -in  relation  to  his 
sword  and  watch.  I  think  the  probability  is  that  Mr.  Tun- 
no's  account  of  what  he  saw  and  heard  at  the  moment  of 
Wallace's  fall  is  strictly  correct,  but  that  by  reason  of  the 
excitement  of  the  hour  it  is  not  accurate  as  to  time  when 
the  papers  were  taken  from  his  person.  That  probably  oc 
curred  after  the  fierceness  of  the  action  had  subsided.  Gen 
eral  Polk  probably  spent  the  night  near  where  General  Wal 
lace  lay  wounded. 

"Your  father,  With  much  love, 

"T.  LYLE  DICKEY/' 

At  the  dedication  of  the  new  Supreme  Court  House,  at 
Springfield,  Illinois,  Colonel  Wood,  of  Effingham,  made  an 
address  which  was  reported  in  the  Chicago  Legal  News  of 
February  15th,  1908,  in  which  he  refers  to  General  W.  H. 
L.  Wallace  as  follows:  "Wallace,  a  General  in  command 
of  a  division  in  the  /Hornet's  Nest/  near  the  Shiloh  Church, 
ended  a  faithful  service  to  his  country  with  his  life.  His 
trophies  were  a  front  line  firmly  maintained  during  a  long 
day  of  bloody  conflicts — a  battlefield  held — an  army  saved." 

General  Wallace  evinced  such  marked  military  ability  his 
friends  often  speculated  as  to  what  his  career  might  have 
been  had  he  survived  the  battle  of  Shiloh.  Many  years 
after  the  war  General  Grant  was  asked  by  Captain  Town, 
a  surviving  member  of  the  old  Eleventh  Illinois  infantry, 
what  his  opinion  was  of  W.  H.  L.  Wallace's  ability  and 
future.  General  Grant's  answer  was,  "Had  he  lived,  I 
would  not  be  where  I  am  now." 

When  Mrs.  Wallace  went  to  Europe  in  1869  President 
Grant  gave  her  the  following  letter  of  introduction,  which 
honors  her  no  less  than  her  husband. 

General  Lew  Wallace  in  his  Autobiography  speaks  of 
General  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  "as  a  man  gallant  as  one  may 
ever  hope  to  encounter.  And  here  I  may  as  well  answer 
a  question  often  asked.  I  do  not  know  of  any  relationship 
between  Colonel  W.  H.  L.  Wallace  and  myself.  I  do  know, 
however,  that  I  should  be  very  proud  did  such  exist.  Had 

[218] 


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LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

he  lived  high  rank  was  just  ahead  of  him.     He  possessed 
all  the  elements  of  a  great  soldier." 

On  Decoration  Day,  1874,  at  Ottawa  the  Knights  Temp 
lar  had  charge  of  the  day's  services,  which  were  very  im 
pressive.  In  the  afternoon  after  the  other  exercises  were 
finished  they  proceeded  to  the  grave  of  General  W.  H.  L. 
Wallace  on  the  bluff  near  his  late  residence.  "At  the  grave 
the  flowery  tribute  as  well  as  the  solemn  appearance  and 
knightly  bearing  of  the  commandery  was  very  imposing. 
Wreaths  and  bouquets  were  placed  around  the  tomb  by  a 
delegation  of  young  ladies,  while  the  Knights  so  placed 
their  flowers  as  to  form  a  cross  o'er  the  breast  of  their  il 
lustrious  though  fallen  comrade.  A  beautiful  white  cross 
within  a  triangle  of  evergreens  rested  at  the  foot  of  the 
grave  and  a  cross  and  crown  decked  the  head  of  the  grave 
of  the  departed  hero." 

Then  Hon.  Washington  Bushnell  gave  an  eloquent  eu 
logy,  which  did  honor  to  the  heart  and  intellect  of  the  living 
friend  no  less  than  the  dead  friend  eulogized: 
"He  is  not  dead  but  sleepeth." 

"Yes,  'he  sleeps  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking.'  Look 
upon  his  grave !  Behold  his  tomb,  but  do  not  imagine  that 
he  is  dead.  A  form  so  erect  and  manly  may  rest  in  the 
grave,  but  a  spirit  so  noble  cannot  die.  It  is  yet  abroad 
working  for  good  purposes  and  ends.  Who  remembers  him 
but  as  kind  and  gentle,  yet  firm?  Exalted  in  his  manners 
and  example,  and  pure  in  all  his  impulses?  Look  through 
this  leafy  grove.  Can  you  not  see  him  walking  from  that 
front  door  to  yonder  gate,  with  form  erect,  countenance 
beaming  with  kindness  and  flashing  with  thought  and  intel 
ligence?  Be  not  deceived,  for  looking  again  you  see  him 
not,  for  here  he  lies. 

"And  here  let  me  say  to  the  widowed  wife,  lay  aside 
your  grief,  forget  your  mourning,  for  what  woman  has  had 
bequeathed  to  her  a  legacy  so  rich  as  the  name  and  fame 
of  him  of  whom  I  speak,  and  who  yet  liveth  in  spirit  to 
comfort  and  protect  you. 

"The  inanimate  form  which  this  tomb  confines  was  but 
a  short  time  ago  the  abode  of  one  of  the  purest  patriotic 
hearts  that  ever  honored  our  land.  He  was  one  of  the  first 

[219] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

to  volunteer  in  the  Mexican  war,  and  won  unextinguishable 
honors  as  a  brave  officer  in  the  First  United  States  regi 
ment.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  was  the  first 
of  our  citizens  to  offer  his  services  to  the  Government.  I 
need  not  detail  his  subsequent  career,  for  it  is  as  familiar 
as  a  household  word.  Mortally  wounded  upon  the  sixth  of 
April,  1862,  he  died  upon  the  tenth.  Pittsburg  Landing, 
how  hallowed  the  name,  how  glorious,  yet  how  sad,  the  sur 
roundings  !  Whether  making  friends  in  the  social  circle,  or 
gathering  laurels  in  legal  contests ;  whether  carrying  materi 
als  upon  his  shoulder  up  the  bluff  to  beautify  an  early  home, 
or  wearing  upon  the  same  shoulder  the  glittering  epaulets 
upon  the  field  of  strife  and  carnage  to  victory  and  ultimate 
death,  yet  he  was  Wallace  ever,  he  was  Wallace  still.  Oh ! 
how  the  hopes  of  true-hearted  friends  drooped,  like  these 
fading  flowers  upon  his  grave  as  they  heard  the  mournful 
news !  Around  his  tomb  to-day  are  thousands  of  those  who 
knew  him  best  and  love  him  longest.  To  them  and  his 
country  his  death  was  a  calamity,  but  to  him  it  was  a  glo 
rious  fading  into  immortality. 

"Fearless  and  self  reliant,  open  in  dislikes,  warm  in 
friendship,  he  ever  marched  straightforward  in  the  line  of 
duty  and  truth.  As  a  man  to  be  judged  in  private  life  few 
were  his  equals.  Never  was  he  charged  with  broken  faith 
or  violated  trust. 

"And  now  at  eventide  as  the  shadows  lengthen  toward 
the  East,  where  he  loved  to  sit  so  well  and  from  whence  we 
have  often  obeyed  his  gavel  call,  let  us  turn  again  to  the 
West  and  behold  his  sepulchre,  fully  realizing  that  the  Grand 
Supreme  Commander  of  the  Universe  has  by  His  gavel 
called  our  comrade  to  his  final  and  peaceful  rest.  Gentle 
neighbor,  good  friend,  true  patriot  and  noble  hero,  hail! 
and  again  farewell." 

As  the  concluding  sentences  of  the  eulogy  were  uttered 
the  knights  presented  arms  and  with  heads  uncovered 
showed  their  appreciation  of  the  dead  hero.  As  the  last 
word,  "farewell"  fell  from  the  eloquent  speaker  the  trick 
ling  tear  and  moistened  eyes  of  the  vast  concourse  of  peo 
ple  told  plainly  of  the  love  and  respect  which  was  gathered 
there  to  pay  tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  fallen  patriot. 

[220] 


THE    DRAWING    OF    THE    MEMORIAL    WINDOW    IN    THE 
LIBRARY    AT    THE    OAKS 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

After  the  ceremony  at  the  grave  the  knights  visited 
Mrs.  Wallace  at  her  residence  and  by  words  of  comfort 
renewed  the  assurances  of  their  sympathy. 

Some  years  before  the  Knights  Templar  had  presented 
Mrs.  Wallace  with  a  beautiful  oil  painting  of  her  husband 
— thus  showing  their  respect  and  esteem  for  her  no  less  than 
the  loving  memory  held  of  her  husband. 

For  many  years  Mrs.  Wallace  had  a  desire  to  place  a 
memorial  window  in  the  church  at  Ottawa  in  memory  of 
her  husband.  She  gave  much  thought  to  the  subject,  visit 
ing  many  churches  in  her  own  country  and  in  Europe.  In 
the  Glasgow  cathedral  she  especially  admired  the  stained 
glass  where  the  windows  are  exceptionally  fine.  They  are 
all  memorials  given  in  the  years  1861-1863.  A  committee 
selected  of  Glasgow  citizens  recommended  a  uniform  plan 
of  illustration  and  harmonious  treatment  of  the  entire  series 
of  windows.  The  Royal  Establishment  of  Glass  Painting  at 
Munich  was  selected  to  carry  on  the  work,  and  many  of  the 
most  eminent  artists  in  Germany  were  the  designers  of  the 
windows.  One  window  especially  interested  Mrs.  Wallace. 
It  was  the  subject  of  the  Resurrection,  designed  by  Profes 
sor  Julius  Hubner  of  Dresden,  director  of  the  Royal  Gal 
lery  and  one  of  the  finest  artists  in  Germany.  She  made  a 
note  of  the  name,  and  when  two  years  later  she  visited  Dres 
den,  called  upon  him,  asking  if  he  could  suggest  some  artist 
to  design  a  window  for  her.  She  told  him  she  would  like 
the  subject  of  the  Resurrection,  but  as  her  means  were  lim 
ited  she  feared  she  could  not  have  a  design  so  elaborate. 

Professor  Hubner  became  very  much  interested  in  her 
and  her  project  and  offered  to  undertake  the  work  himself. 
As  he  would  like  to  have  some  of  his  work  in  America,  he 
would  charge  nothing  for  it,  only  for  the  mechanical  part 
of  the  glass  worker.  His  work  consisted  principally  of 
large  canvasses  on  historical  and  biblical  subjects  which 
hang  on  the  walls  of  many  public  and  private  European  gal 
leries.  Occasionally  he  made  designs  for  memorial  win 
dows,  some  of  which  were  placed  in  the  chapels  of  the  royal 
palaces  near  Dresden,  to  which  he  gave  Mrs.  Wallace  and 
her  friends  the  entree  to  see  his  work  and  visit  these  inter 
esting  places. 

[221] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

He  made  a  most  beautiful  design  of  the  Resurrection  for 
Mrs.  Wallace's  window.  There  is  the  figure  of  the  Christ 
with  the  angel  holding  open  the  tomb.  On  the  halo  around 
the  Christ  head  is  the  text :  "Grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?" 
After  the  window  was  completed  Professor  Hubner  made 
Mrs.  Wallace  a  present  of  the  drawing  of  the  window, 
which  she  had  incorporated  into  the  book  cases  in  the  li 
brary  at  her  home  in  Ottawa. 

The  window  was  placed  in  Christ  Episcopal  Church  in 
1872.  The  lower  section  of  the  window  represents  the  life 
of  General  Wallace  in  pictured  scenes.  It  was  executed  un 
der  Mrs.  Wallace's  direction  by  a  less  renowned  artist  than 
Professor  Hubner.  The  first  scene  is  a  log  cabin  represent 
ing  the  childhood  home  with  the  date  1834  and  the  text: 
"That  our  garners  may  be  full."  The  next  scene,  1840, 
represents  the  student's  life  with  table  and  books  and  the 
text:  "Take  fast  hold  of  instruction."  The  third  and  cen 
tral  figure  represents  his  profession,  Justice  with  her  scales 
and  the  text :  "Teach  me  thy  statutes."  On  a  pillar  to  the 
right  in  this  scene  is  a  Masonic  emblem  showing  his  con 
nection  with  that  order.  The  next  scene  is  the  Mexican 
War  in  1846,  with  the  text:  "Thou  hast  covered  my  head 
in  the  day  of  battle."  The  lower  picture  and  last  one  is  the 
river  at  Pittsburg  Landing  with  boats  and  the  smoke  of 
the  battle  in  the  distance,  and  the  riderless  horse,  with  the 
text:  "In  the  Lord  I  have  put  my  trust.  I  will  not  fear 
what  flesh  can  do  unto  me."  In  the  right  corner  of  this 
same  picture  is  a  beautiful  oak  tree  in  full  vigor  riven  by 
lightning  and  broken  in  twain ;  clinging  to  it  is  a  vine  with 
the  text :  "Thy  will,  not  mine,  be  done."  The  oak  tree  rep 
resenting  the  vigorous  manhood  cut  down  in  his  prime ;  the 
vine,  the  woman's  love  remaining  the  same  both  in  life  and 
in  death. 

Thus  in  beautiful  stained  glass  is  pictured  the  blessed 
truth  of  a  risen  life  beyond  the  sorrows  and  disappoint 
ments  of  this  earthly  life,  where  the  noble  deed  of  heroes 
and  patriots  find  a  reward  more  exalted  than  the  plaudits 
of  their  fellow  men,  for  a  country  saved  in  its  entirety  by 
noble  self  sacrifice  and  exalted  patriotism. 

[222] 


BIOGRAPHICAL    SECTION    OF    MEMORIAL    WINDOW 


CHAPTER  XXI. 
MRS.  WALLACE. 

A  FEW  sketches  are  here  added  of  Mrs.  Wallace's  life 
after  the  death  of  her  husband,  whose  memory  she 
cherished  with  devoted  love.  She  did  not  retire  from 
the  world  in  selfish  sorrow,  but  lived  a  brave,  heroic  and 
unselfish  life,  lightening  the  burden  of  others,  thereby  bring 
ing  joy  into  her  own  saddened  life. 

During  the  war  she  made  several  visits  to  her  relatives 
in  the  army  and  the  following  incident  of  one  of  these  trips 
shows  her  quick  presence  of  mind  in  an  emergency.  She, 
with  her  little  daughter,  had  been  spending  the  winter  in 
Natchez,  Mississippi,  with  the  family  of  General  Wallace's 
brother,  Colonel  M.  R.  M.  Wallace,  commandant  of  the 
post  there,  and  were  returning  in  the  spring  to  their  north 
ern  home. 

The  steamer  Luminary,  on  which  they  were  passengers, 
tied  up  one  day  at  a  lonely  place  on  the  Mississippi  river  to 
take  on  wood;  and  while  they  were  engaged  in  loading,  a 
band  of  Guerrillas  rode  out  from  the  thick  wood  and 
opened  a  heavy  fire  on  the  boat.  The  rope  that  held  the 
steamer  to  the  landing  was  quickly  cut  and  for  greater  safe 
ty  the  boat  made  for  the  middle  of  the  river. 

Mrs.  Wallace's  stateroom,  with  glass  doors  leading  onto 
the  deck,  was  on  the  side  of  the  firing,  so  was  in  a  very  ex 
posed  position.  Her  first  thought  was  for  the  little  girl 
running  about  the  deck,  who,  when  told  she  must  come  in 
or  the  "rebels  would  shoot  her,"  was  very  reluctant  to  do 
so,  as  she  could  not  understand  why  the  rebels  wanted  to 
shoot  her,  for  she  had  been  playing  with  them  all  winter 
and  had  encountered  no  harm.  Her  mother  persuaded  her 
with  some  force,  placing  her  behind  a  trunk,  then  she  hasti 
ly  took  the  mattresses  from  her  bed  and  placed  them  against 
the  glass  doors  making  a  protection  that  was  perfectly  bullet 
proof. 

In  the  saloon  tables  were  overturned  and  fine  ladies 

[223] 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

crouched  tremblingly  behind  them.  The  boat  soon  steamed 
out  of  harm's  way  and  went  gallantly  northward  with  no 
damage  but  many  bullets  imbedded  in  her  wooden  sides. 

In  1868  Mrs.  Wallace  with  her  daughter  spent  much 
time  in  Washington  City  at  the  home  of  her  father,  then 
Assistant  Attorney  General.  While  there  she  renewed  the 
friendship  made  in  war  times  with  the  families  of  General 
Grant  and  General  Sherman.  Mrs.  Wallace  was  very  un 
assuming,  but  had  the  faculty  of  making  and  retaining 
friends. 

A  long  cherished  wish  of  going  to  Europe  was  accom 
plished  the  following  year,  President  Grant  and  General 
Sherman  both  giving  her  letters  of  introduction.  General 
Sherman's  letter  is  here  given,  President  Grant's  having  al 
ready  been  given  earlier  in  this  volume. 

"Headquarters  Army  of  the  United  States, 

"WASHINGTON,  D.  C,  August  3,  1869. 
"MRS.  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE, 
"WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

"DEAR  MADAM  : — I  learn  that  you  propose  soon  to  sail 
for  France  to  spend  a  year  or  more,  partly  for  the  purpose 
of  educating  your  child.  I  feel  assured  all  you  need  there 
will  be  to  have  it  known  that  you  are  the  widow  of  one  of 
our  War  Generals  who  fell  in  battle  in  the  early  part  of  the 
war. 

"Should  you  take  up  your  residence  in  France  you  should 
see  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne,  who  would  gladly  provide 
you  the  necessary  credentials.  Or  if  you  go  to  Germany  I 
commend  you  to  the  special  care  of  our  Minister  at  Brus 
sels,  Mr.  Jones,  or  to  our  Minister  at  The  Hague,  Holland, 
General  Ewing,  my  brother-in-law.  I  know  that  either  of 
these  gentlemen  will  take  pleasure  in  giving  you  the  bene 
fit  of  their  official  stations. 

"Wishing  you  health,  happiness  and  a  safe  return  to  your 
family  and  friends.  I  am  truly  yours, 

"W.  T.  SHERMAN,  General." 

Mrs.  Wallace  encountered  friends  wherever  she  went. 
In  Paris  was  the  Hon.  E.  B.  Washburne  of  Illinois,  who  was 

[224] 


MRS.    WALLACE,    1877 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

kindness  itself  to  Mrs.  Wallace,  and  many  other  American 
ladies  in  the  trying  times  of  the  Franco-Prussian  war  and 
the  siege  of  Paris.  Mr.  Washburne  won  renown,  honor 
and  respect  both  from  Germany  and  France,  no  less  than 
from  his  own  country,  in  the  wonderful  manner  in  which  he 
conducted  diplomatic  affairs  at  this  time.  As  the  German 
Ambassador  could  not  remain  in  Paris  during  this  war,  Mr. 
Washburne  acted  for  the  German  Government  along  with 
his  duties  to  his  own  country.  He  aided  many  a  poor  Ger 
man  to  return  to  the  Fatherland. 

It  was  Mr.  Washburne  who  notified  Mrs.  Wallace  of  the 
near  approach  of  the  Prussian  Army  and  that  a  quick  exit 
from  Paris  was  wise.  On  a  day's  notice  she  and  her  little 
girl  left  Paris  for  Brussels,  the  city  of  refuge  for  so  many 
Parisian  refugees.  They  left  Paris  none  too  soon  to  escape 
the  horrors  of  that  dreadful  siege.  They  spent  a  year  and  a 
half  in  Germany,  returning  to  their  own  country  in  1872. 
Ten  years  later  they  crossed  the  Pacific  ocean,  spending  two 
years  in  the  sunny  isles  of  the  mid  Pacific,  Hawaii,  where 
Mrs.  Wallace's  brother,  C.  H.  Dickey,  and  sister,  Mrs.  C.  H. 
Wallace,  were  residing.  It  was  then  foreign  soil,  but  is 
now  loyal  American  territory  with  a  people  to  be  proud  of, 
with  scenery  and  climate  scarcely  to  be  equaled  on  the 
globe's  surface. 

Mrs.  Wallace's  life  was  one  of  great  activity  and  variety, 
travel  and  change,  but  no  one  was  more  devoted  to  her 
home,  her  town  or  her  friends.  She  loved  to  fill  her  house 
with  guests,  especially  the  young,  and  entertained  with  true 
Southern  hospitality  which  had  been  born  and  bred  in  her. 

Ill  health  came  to  her  in  her  later  years,  but  her  cheer 
fulness  and  interest  in  everything  around  her  never  flagged. 
Even  in  the  months  of  her  last  illness,  helpless  from  a 
stroke  of  paralysis,  her  sweetness,  amiability  and  cheeri- 
ness  never  forsook  her,  and  when  the  end  came  in  April, 
1889,  she  passed  to  her  merited  reward,  to  be  reunited  to 
the  beloved  gone  on  before. 

Hers  was  a  rounded,  beautiful  life,  a  life  of  good  deeds 
given  from  the  overflow  of  a  loving  nature,  not  deeds  that 
merited  to  be  trumpeted  abroad,  but  every-day  kindnesses 


[2251 


LIFE  AND  LETTERS  OF  GENERAL  W.  H.  L.  WALLACE 

that  sweeten  daily  life — a  Samaritan  to  any  who  required 

her  aid  on  life's  highway. 

********* 

Members  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  and  Sons  of  Veterans 
assisted  in  the  burial  of  Mrs.  Wallace.  "After  the  services 
at  the  house  the  pall  bearers  raised  the  casket  and  pre 
ceded  by  the  officiating  clergyman  walked  to  the  beautiful 
private  cemetery  *  *  *  *  where  the  last  sad  rites  were 
performed  and  Martha  Ann  Wallace  was  laid  with  sadness 
to  rest  with  those  to  whom  in  life  she  was  so  sincerely  de 
voted,  and  whose  memory  she  so  ardently  cherished.  Just 
as  the  last  service  was  performed  the  setting  sun  shone 
brightly  through  the  clouds,  and  the  quiet  of  the  evening 
seemed  as  a  benediction  to  a  pure  and  holy  life." 


[226] 


7> 


INDEX 


Adams,  Charles  Francis,  99 

Alysworth,  J.  H.,  3 

Ampudia,  General,  42;  45 

Armstrong,  Geo.  W.,  85 

Army  of  the  Centre,  13 ;  of  Occupa 
tion,  14;  of  the  Ohio,  188;  of  the 
Tennessee,  188;  of  the  West,  13 

Arnold,  I.  N.,  72;  101 

Artillery,  Bragg's,  38;  42;  44;  45;  47 
First,  32;  Fourth,  19;  32 
Houghtaling's    Battery    of,    137; 
McAllister's,  138;  151 
O'Brien,     47;     Schwartz's,     137; 
Sherman's,  38;  44 
Taylor's  Battery,  137;  151;  161; 

163;  174;  179;  182 
Washington's,  32;  43;  47;  49 

Avery,  J.,  169 

Baker,  Col.  Ned,  13 

Battles,  of  Belmont,  141;  142; 
Buena  Vista,  40-54;  Fort  Donel- 
son,  157-165;  Fort  Henry,  150- 
155;  Shiloh,  188-196;  213-216 

Bell  John,  87;  98 

Bestor,  Geo.  C.,  85 

Beveridge,  John  L.,  5;  n 

Bissel,  Wm.  H.,i3;  44;  48;  75;  78;  79 

Blanco,  Miguel,  23;  24 

Bloody  Island,  14 

Borland,  Major  Solon,  35;  36;  68 

Bourneville,  Major,  19;  32 

Bowman,  Sam  M.,  180 

Bragg,  Braxton,  19;  38;  42;  44;  46; 
47;  60;  191;  194 

Breckenridge,  John  C.,  87;  195 

Browning,  O.  H.,  148 

Brig  Albertina,  18 

Buchanan,  James,  71 

Buckner,  Simon  B.,  77-79;  158 

Buell,  Don  Carlos,  171;  187;  188; 
191;  196 

Bushnell,  Washington,  106;  169; 
174;  219-220 


Butler,  Maj.  Gen.,  30;  33 

Button,  Chaplain  Chas.,  183;  184; 

197 
Byron, .  18 

Cameron,  Simon,  105 

Camps — Alton,  111.,  13;  14  Aqua 
Nueva,  Mex.,  28;  38.  Bird's 
Point,  Mo.,  122.  Crockett,  San 
Antonio,  Tex.,  19.  Douglas,  Chi 
cago,  114;  203.  Hardin,  Villa 
Ridge,  111.,  no.  LaEncantado 
Mex.,  32.  Mission  de  Conception, 
Texas,  19.  Monclova,  Mex.,  22. 
Parras,  Mex.,  26.  Presidio,  Mex. 
21.  San  Juan  de  Buena  Vista, 
33;  39;  55-  Taylor,  Saltillo, 
Mex.,  40 

Caton,  John  Dean,  10;  61;  157; 
169;  183;  184 

Cavalry,  A.  W.,  168 

Cavalry — Arkansas,  26;  33.  Bur- 
ril's,  137.  D  e  L  a  n  o  '  s  ,  138. 
Fourth,  113;  150;  174;  180;  181. 
Kentucky,  19.  Langen's,  137. 
Noleman's,  137;  140.  Pfaff's, 
137.  Second  Illinois,  138.  Ste 
wart's,  137 

Champlain,  J.  C.,  82;  119;  169;  171 

Cheatham,  Gen.  B.  F.,  195 

Cheever,  S.  W.,  169 

Cherry  Mansion,  197 

Churchill,  Sylvester,  18;  30;  44;  57 

Clark,  Chaplain,  203 

Coates,  James  H.,  186 

Coffin,  Charles  C.,  196 

Colman,  Rev.  Z.,  205 

Comanches,  26;  27;  30 

Confederate  States  of  America,  88 

Congressional  Convention,  73;  82 

Cook,  Col.,  109 

Crittenden,  Thos.  L.,  191 

Cullen,  Wm.,  60 

Cullom,  Shelby  M.,  5;  217 


[227] 


INDEX 


Davis,  David,  74-76;  83-85  591 599; 

148;  178 

Davis,  G.  I.,  160;  179;  192 
Davis,  G.  T.  M.,  21 
Davis,  Henry  Winter,  99 
Davis,  Jefferson,  38;  71;  87;  88 
Dayton,  Wm.  L.,  71 
Deer  Park  Glen,  n 
Dickey,  Charlie  H.,  no;  114;  166; 

180;  225 
Dickey,  Cyrus  E.,  68;  95;  108;  114; 

122-125;  140; 166;  192;  196; 198; 

199;  202 

Dickey,  James  H.,  64 
Dickey,  John  J.,  183;  201 
Dickey,  Juliet  (Evans)  63 
Dickey,  T.  Lyle,  9;  13;  16;  20;  56; 

62;   73;  88;  90;   114;    151;   170; 

191;  199;  202;  217 
Divisions  — First    ( McClernand's ) , 
188;  194 

Second  (W.  H.  L.  Wallace),  188; 

194;  195 

Third  (Lew  Wallace),  188 
Fourth  (Hurlbut),  188;  194 
Fifth  (Sherman),  188;  191 
Sixth  (Prentiss),    188;    191;    194; 

195 

Donelson,  Capture  of,  Fort,  157-165 
Douglas,  Stephen  A.,  57;  70;  79;  86; 

87;  90;  106;  108 

Douglas,  Mrs.  Stephen  A.,  90;  108 
Drummed  from  Regiment,  16 

Eames,  Edward,  119 

Eames,  Henry,  169 

Earl,  Seth  C.,  164 

Ebarba,  Don  Manuel  de,  26;  30;  55 

Eddy,  T.  M.,  102;  106;  108;  126; 

196 

Erwin,  William,  57;  168 
Ewing,  J.  S.,  62 
Ewing,  H.  B.,  224 
Evara,  see  Ebarba 


n,  J-  H.,  13 
1,  J.  V.,  5 

5,  S.  M.,  5; 


Farnam, 
Farwell, 

Fellows,  b.  M.,  5;  n 
Field  order  to  Brigade  Commanders, 
152 


Fillmore,  Millard,  70 

Fisher,  Helen,  165 

Flag  of  the  Eleventh  Illinois,  165 ;  166 

Floyd,  John  B.,  158 

Foote,  Commodore,  148;  154;  155; 

158;     167 

Fort,  G.  L.,  92;  114 
Franklin,  Lady,  89 
Fremont,  John  C.,  70;  71;  75;  82; 

126;  129;  142 
French  Explorers,  n 

Gains,  Major,  35-37 

Gibson,  Randall  L.,  194 

Gibson,  Mrs.  T.  C.,  117 

Gibson,  Wm.  L.,  118 

Glover,  J.  O.,  81;  169 

Goodell,    Jennie     (Matteson),    93; 

184 
Goodell,  R.  Eaton,  32;  33;  93;  177; 

183;  184 
Grant,  Ulysses  S.,  7;  60;  134;  137; 

138;  151;  158;  166;  171;  176;  186; 

188;  189;  1915.192;  201;  218 
Gray,  O.  C.,  169,  173 
Green,  George,  40 
Gresham,  Walter  Q.,  197 

Halleck,  H.  W.,  137;  142;  149;  188; 

201 

Hanson,  Roger,  167 
Hampton  T.,  169 
Hardee,  Wm.  J.,  127;  128;  191 
Hardin,    John   J.,    13;    19;   30;   32; 

42-49;  52;  53;  no 
Harney,  Wm.  S.,   19 
Haynie,  I.  N.,  151 
Henry,  Captain,  36;  37 
Henry,  Fort,  Capture  of,  154;    155 
Herndon,  Lieut.,  131 
Herrick,  Dr.,  33 
Henshaw,  E.  C.,  169 
Hicks,  Thos.  H.,  98;   99 
Hitt,  Daniel  F.,  4 
Hitt,  Martin,  4 
Hitt,  Robert  R.,  5;   7 
Hitt,  Samuel,  4;   9. 
Hitt,  Thomas  S.,  4 
Hoes,  J.  V.  A.,  169 
Hollister,  W.  E.,  169 


[228J 


INDEX 


Hornet's  Nest,  193;   194;    218 

Hotchkiss,  C.  Y.,  179;   204 

Hot  Springs,  Arkansas,  66;    67 

Hubner,  Julius,  221 

Hurlbut,  S.  A.,  174;    188;    192-194 

Illini  Indians,  n 

Jackson,  Andrew,  18 

Jones,  J.  Russel,  224 

Johnson,  Bushrod,  158 

Johnston,  Albert  Sidney,  191;    194 

Johnston,  Wm.  Preston,  194 

Judd,  Mrs.  Norman  B.,  90 

Kearney,  Philip,  13 
Knox,  Joe,  101 

Lamme,  Elizabeth,  2 

Lamme,  James,  2 

Lamme,  Mary,  2 

Lamon  Hill,  84;   99;    116 

Larned,  E.  C.,  101 

LaSalle  County,  Illinois.  2 

Lauman,  Jacob  D.,  171 

Lawler,  Col.,  133 

Lee,  Robert  E.,  19;   60 

Leland,  L.,  169 

Leland,  P.  K.,  169 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  9;    63;    76;    79; 

80;  81;  87;  88;  90;  92;  98-101; 

103;    148 

Lincoln-Douglas  Debates,  81 
Lindley,  Philo,  173 
Lovejoy,  Owen,  72-76;   81-86;   90; 

101 
Lurget,  Mr.,  123;    124 

Me  Arthur,  Gen.  John,  160;    192 
McCaleb,  H.  A.,  164 
McClellan,  Geo.  B.  115;   164 
McClernand,   John  A.,   133;    137; 

139;    152;    160;    166;    171;    188; 

192;    193 

McDaid,  H.  O.,  6 
McDowell,  John  A.,  191 
McCullough,  Wm.,  179 
McMichael,  William,  192;    213-215 
McPherson,  James  B.,  181 
Marsh,  C.  C.,  151 


Masonic  Order,  61;   204;   205;   208; 

219;    221 

Matteson,  Joel,  93 
Memphis,  Tenn.,  16;   95;   96 
Milligan,  W.  L.,  61 
Minnion,  General,  36 
Mississippi   River,    14;     Plantations 

on,  17 

Moore,  A.  B.,  169 
Morgan,  Captain,  18;    26 
Mount  Morris  Seminary,  4;    5;     7; 

Literary  Societies,  5 ;   6;   College, 

7 

Nash,  J.  F.,  119;    169 

Nevius,  Garrett,  164 

Newham,  T.  J.,  192 

New  Orleans,  13;  St.  Charles  Hotel, 

17;    18 
North   Western    University,    Evan- 

ston,  7 

O'Brien,  Lieut.,  42;  44;  48 
Occidental  Lodge  No.  40,  61 
Ogle  County,  Illinois,  3 ;  Outlaws  in, 

3 ;    Regulators  in,  3 
Oglesby,  Richard  J.,  109;  112;  131; 

139;    160;    174;    180 
Osgood,  Ori,  75;   77 
Osman,  William,  19;    32;    38;    169 
Ottawa,  Illinois,  9;    10 

Paddock,  S.  A.,  93 

Paine,  E.  A.,  109;    112 

Parker,  H.  M.,  201 

Parks,  James  C.,  10 

Pearson,  Chaplain  B.  H.,  163 

Pinckney,  D.  J.,  8;    22 

Pillow,  Gideon  J.,  127;    131;    138; 

158;    191 

Pine  Creek  Grammar  School,  4 
Plummer,  Joseph  B.,  138 
Political  Parties, — Abolition,  70;  72- 

74;    83;    85.     American  or  Know 

Nothing,    70;     78.     A.  P.  A.,   70. 

Democrats,  70;    74;    79;    85;    87. 

Free   Soil,    70.     Republican,    70; 

80;     84;     87.     Conventions,    73; 

80;   84;   88.     Whigs,  70;   75 
Polk,  Mrs.  James  K.,  171 


[229] 


INDEX 


Polk,    Leonidas,    116;     138;     142; 

191;  194;  195;  2is;  2i6 

Pollock;  James,  98 
Prentiss,  B.  M.,  20;    26;    60;    112; 
129;     134;     188;     191-194;     214 

Quincy  Riflemen,  18 

Rainy,  Henry  C.,  202 

Ransom,  T.  E.  G.,  122;  140;  160; 
164;  198;  211;  212 

Rawlins,  John  A.,  5;   7.    138 

Reedick,  William,  169 

Reed,  W.  D.,  189 

Regiments:  —  Arkansas,  19.  First 
Illinois,  13;  15;  19;  21 ;  26;  33;  37; 
40;  42;  47.  Second  Illinois,  13;  15; 
19;  26;  34;  37;  42;  44.  Second 
Iowa,  137.  Third  Illinois,  13; 
15;  Fourth  Illinois,  13;  15.  Sev 
enth  Illinois,  109;  137.  Seventh 
Iowa,  137.  Eighth  Illinois,  109; 
137.  Ninth  Illinois,  109.  Tenth 
Illinois,  137.  Tenth  Iowa,  137. 
Eleventh  Illinois,  108;  no;  137; 
140;  150;  155;  160;  163;  164;  167; 
1715174.  Eleventh  Indiana,  161. 
Eleventh  Missouri,  138;  Seven 
teenth  Illinois,  138.  Eighteenth 
Illinois,  139.  Twentieth  Illinois, 
137;  151;  174.  Twenty-second 
Illinois,  137;  Twenty-eighth,  137; 
Forty-fifth,  151;  174;  Forty- 
eighth,  151;  174 

Reynolds,  Elizabeth  (Hitt),  4 

Richardson,  W.  A.,  55;   57;   59 

Rock  River  Seminary,  see  Mt. 
Morris. 

Ross,  Col.,  174;    176;    185 

Ruggles,  Daniel,  195 

Rumsey,  Israel  P.,  153;  159-162; 
179;  180;  191;  192;  202 

Rumsey,  John  W.,  191 
Rumsey,  Julius,  202 

St.  Charles  Hotel,  New  Orleans,  18 

St.  Louis,  Missouri,  15 

Santa  Ana,  Gen,   25;    27-29;    34; 

38;  39;  41;  42;  45;  46;  51;  53;  55 

Schermerhorn,  Ed.,  in. 


Scott,  Gen.  Winfield,  13;    14;    32; 

34;   38;   94 
Schwartz,  A.,  153 
Seward,  Wm.  H.,  89;    105 
Sherman,  W.  T.,  19;    38;    44;    60; 

181;    188;    191;    195;    224 
Shields,  James  T.,  15;    17;    21;    25 
Simpson,  Alexander,  101 
Smith,  Gen.  C.  F.,  154;    174;    176; 

180;    181;   188;    213;    214 
Smith,  I.  E.,  161 
Stanton,  Edwin  M.,  7 
Starved  Rock,  111.,  2;    n 
Steamer  Hanibal,  14 
Steamer  Luminary,  223 
Stebbins,  G.  S.,  169 
Stephens,  Alexander,  88 
Stewart,  Gen.  A.  P.,  194 
Stewart,  Gen.  Dave,  193 
Stewart,  John  T.,  148 
Strong,  Geo.  C.,  183-185;    202 
Sumner,  Charles,  71;   74 
Sweeney,  T.  W.,  192;    193 
Swett,  Leonard,  80;    83;    88;    148; 

178 
Swift,  H.  M.,  169 

Taylor,  Captain,  171 
Taylor,  Zaehary,  14;    15;    25;    27; 
28;  32;  34;  36;  38;  39;  41;  46; 

53;   55 
Templeton,  Margaret  (Dickey),  142; 

197 

Thompson,  Jeff.,  127 
Tilgham,  Lloyd,  155 
Town,  O.  C.,  218 

Trumbull,    Lyman,    85;     91;     101 
Tunno,  M.  R.,  216 
Tuttle,  James  M.,  192;    193 

Urbana,  Ohio,  2 

Uncle  Tom's  Cabin,  Mrs.  Stowe's  73 

Walker,  David,  169 

Wallace,  Ann  (Dickey),  9;    62-67; 

89;    100:    106;    113;  118;  120; 

129;    130;    134-136;  140;  142; 

144;    147;    151;    156;  157;  166; 

177;     182-187;     197-200;  218; 

221;    223-226 


[230] 


INDEX 


Wallace,  Caleb  Hitt,  113;    199 
Wallace,    Isabel,    69;      118;      145; 

146:   223;    224;    225 
Wallace,  John,  2;   3 
Wallace,  John  F.,  113 
Wallace,  Gen.  Lew,  158;    160-162; 

174;  189;  192;  196;  218 
Wallace,  Martin  R.  M.,  5,  113; 
181;  182;  199;  200;  202;  223 
Wallace,  Matthew,  113;  153 
Wallace,  Sarah  (Hitt),  2;  4 
Wallace,  V.  Belle  (Dickey),  67;  225 
Wallace,  William,  of  Scotland,  i 
Wallace,  Wm.  H.  L.,  personal  ap 
pearance,  i;  birth  and  ancestry, 
2;  education,  3-8,  n;  law  stu 
dent,  9;  enters  Mexican  War,  13; 
quartermaster,  19;  First  Lieut, 
and  Adjutant,  20;  Judge  Advo 
cate,  35;  returns  from  Mexican 
War,  60;  State's  Attorney,  60; 
Masonic  Fraternity,  61;  nomina 
tion  for  Congress,  63;  marriage, 
64;  religious  connection,  64; 
political  affiliation,  71 ;  name  men 
tioned  for  Congress,  82.  85,  173, 
178;  application  for  U.  S.  Dis 
trict  Attorney,  91;  101;  at  the 
inauguration  of  Lincoln,  99; 
enters  Federal  army,  105;  camps 
at  Villa  Ridge,  no;  moves  to 
Bird's  Point,  Mo.,  122;  in  com 
mand  of  brigade,  129;  first  ex 
change  of  prisoners,  131;  opinion 
of  battle  of  Belmont,  141;  dis 
couraged  at  changes  in  command 
ing  officers,  143,  144;  Commodore 
Foote's  opinion  of,  148;  wedding 


anniversary,  157;  at  Donelson, 
159-165;  Pittsburg  Landing,  174; 
receives  commission  as  Brigadier 
General,  176;  given  command  of 
a  division,  180;  at  Shiloh,  188- 
192;  last  days,  197-200;  Gen. 
Halleck's  opinion  of,  201 ;  funeral 
202-205;  Gen.  Grant's  opinion 
of,  218;  Gen.  Lew  Wallace's 
opinion  of,  218 

Wardlaw,  Andrew,  82;   85 

Warren,  John,  83 

Warren,  Major,   14;    26;    33;    39; 

4i;  52;  55 
Washburn,    Elihu    B.,    101;     224; 

225 

Washington,  Captain,  19 
Waterman,  E.  L.,  169 
Weatherford,  Col.,  16;   50;   51;   52; 

55 

Weed,  Thurlow,  98 
Welden,  Louis,  83;   91 
Wentworth,  John,  85 ;   89 
Whitmore,  Josh,  83 
Widmer,  J.  H.,  109 
Williams,  Archibald,  101 
Williams,  Major,  19 
Winston,  Major,  125 
Withers,  Jones  M.,  195 
Worth,  Wm.  J.,  28;   29;  32;  34;  38 
Wood,  Benson,  218 
Wool,   John  E.,   14;     15;     19;    24; 

25;    28;   30;   33;   35;   39;   53 
Wyeth,  John  A.,  159 

Yates,  Richard  M.,  58;   59 
Yell,  Archibald,  33;   35;   45 
Young,  Richard  M.,  58;   59 


[231] 


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